A judge in New Mexico has thrown out the charges against Timothy Busfield, known for his roles in “West Wing” and “Field of Dreams,” which alleged criminal sexual contact with a child. The dismissal was based on findings of prosecutorial misconduct and errors that undermined the grand jury process. State District Judge Joseph Montano granted a defense motion to dismiss the charges, which were released Friday.
Busfield has consistently denied the accusations, claiming they were fabricated out of spite. It is unclear whether prosecutors will pursue a new indictment following the dismissal.
The allegations against Busfield stem from his time directing the TV series “The Cleaning Lady” between 2022 and 2024. The parents of two twin boys, who were part of the show and later dismissed, alleged that Busfield touched the children inappropriately on the set in Albuquerque, N.M.
According to a criminal complaint filed in January, one of the boys reported that Busfield had touched him inappropriately on two occasions when he was seven and eight years old. The boy’s twin brother also mentioned that Busfield had touched him but did not provide specific details, fearing repercussions.
After turning himself in, Busfield was released from jail pending trial. The judge overseeing the case noted the absence of prior criminal behavior involving children in Busfield’s history. Subsequently, a grand jury indictment followed, detailing the allegations against Busfield.
Busfield’s defense team argued that the children initially denied any inappropriate behavior by Busfield during police interviews. They accused the boys’ parents of influencing their children to provide false statements after losing their roles on the show.
In a motion to dismiss the indictment, Busfield’s attorneys criticized the prosecutors for disregarding the lack of evidence and obstructing witness testimony during the grand jury proceedings. The defense emphasized that witnesses were available and willing to testify but were not properly presented to the grand jury.
During the legal proceedings, Busfield expressed the impact of the case on his life and family, stating that he had suffered professional consequences. He vehemently denied the allegations against him, emphasizing that they were completely false.
The indictment carried potential penalties of up to six years in prison for each count.
