A judge in New Mexico has thrown out a case against actor Timothy Busfield, known for roles in TV series like “West Wing” and “Field of Dreams,” which accused him of inappropriate contact with a child. The dismissal was based on findings of prosecutorial errors and misconduct that compromised the grand jury process. State District Judge Joseph Montano granted a defense request to dismiss the charges, citing these issues in a ruling issued on Friday.
Busfield has consistently denied the allegations, labeling them as falsehoods driven by a desire for retribution. It is uncertain whether prosecutors will pursue a new indictment in light of the judge’s decision.
The case originated during Busfield’s time directing the TV show “The Cleaning Lady” between 2022 and 2024. Parents of twin boys who appeared on the show alleged that Busfield had touched their children inappropriately while on set in Albuquerque, New Mexico. According to a criminal complaint filed in January, one of the boys reported that Busfield had touched his private areas over his clothing when he was seven and eight years old.
The boy’s twin brother also claimed he was touched by Busfield but did not provide specific details out of fear of repercussions. Following his arrest, Busfield was released from jail pending trial, as the judge did not find prior instances of criminal behavior or similar accusations involving children in Busfield’s history.
Despite initial police interviews where the children denied inappropriate touching by Busfield, a grand jury indictment was issued later on, alleging multiple instances of improper contact. Busfield’s legal team highlighted that the children’s statements changed after losing their roles on the show, suggesting they may have been coached by their parents to provide incriminating testimony.
In efforts to have the indictment dismissed, Busfield’s attorneys accused prosecutors of ignoring the lack of evidence and obstructing the grand jury process. They presented audio recordings showing grand jurors’ requests for additional witnesses, which were allegedly disregarded by prosecutors. The defense argued that these actions constituted prosecutorial misconduct.
During a court hearing, Busfield’s attorney played audio recordings revealing that prosecutors misled jurors about the need for subpoenas to summon witnesses who were available to testify. The defense maintained that the prosecution’s conduct was unethical. Conversely, the District Attorney argued that the defense failed to follow correct procedures for presenting evidence to the grand jury and accused Busfield of attempting to influence the jury during his testimony.
Busfield expressed how the case had negatively impacted his life and family, leading to work loss and agency termination. He vehemently denied the allegations of inappropriate behavior towards the children, asserting his innocence. Prosecutors previously stated that each count in the indictment carried a potential sentence of six years in prison, with the possibility of enhancements.