A judge in New Mexico has thrown out a case against actor Timothy Busfield, known for his roles in “West Wing” and “Field of Dreams,” which accused him of inappropriate contact with a child. The dismissal was based on errors and misconduct by prosecutors that compromised the grand jury process. State District Judge Joseph Montano accepted a defense request to drop the charges, stating that the prosecution had mishandled the case. Busfield has consistently denied the accusations, attributing them to falsehoods driven by a desire for retaliation.
It is uncertain whether prosecutors will pursue a new indictment following this ruling. The allegations against Busfield originated while he was directing the TV series “The Cleaning Lady” between 2022 and 2024. The parents of twin boys who were part of the show alleged that Busfield had touched their children inappropriately on the set in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
A criminal complaint filed in January detailed the accusations, with one of the boys claiming that Busfield had touched him inappropriately on two occasions when he was seven and eight years old. The boy’s twin brother also reported being touched by Busfield but did not provide specifics due to fear of repercussions.
Busfield voluntarily surrendered himself and was released on bail pending trial. Despite the lack of prior criminal behavior involving children, a grand jury indicted him on multiple counts related to the alleged incidents. Busfield’s legal team pointed out inconsistencies in the children’s initial statements to the police and accused the parents of manipulating the situation after their children lost their roles in the show.
The defense argued that prosecutors overlooked the lack of evidence and obstructed the grand jury process to prevent crucial witness testimonies. This claim was supported by audio recordings from grand jurors requesting additional witnesses, which prosecutors allegedly disregarded. Bernalillo County District Attorney Greer Staley contested these assertions, stating that the defense failed to adhere to proper evidence submission protocols and accused Busfield of improperly influencing the grand jury.
In his testimony, Busfield expressed how the case had adversely impacted his life and career, leading to job losses and agency termination. He vehemently denied the allegations against him, emphasizing his innocence and the detrimental effects the accusations had on him and his family. The indictment included potential prison sentences for each count, with the possibility of enhancements.