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 alleged criminal sexual contact with a child. The judge cited misconduct by prosecutors and errors that undermined the grand jury process as reasons for dismissing the charges.
State District Judge Joseph Montano granted a defense request to drop the charges, stating that the allegations against Busfield were false and driven by a desire for revenge. Busfield has consistently denied the accusations.
The incident in question occurred while Busfield was directing the TV series “The Cleaning Lady” between 2022 and 2024. Parents of twin boys who were part of the show alleged that Busfield inappropriately touched their children on the set in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Despite a criminal complaint filed in January, where one of the boys reported inappropriate touching by Busfield, the judge found no evidence of a pattern of criminal behavior involving children in Busfield’s past. Busfield was released pending trial after turning himself in.
Busfield’s defense team argued that prosecutors disregarded the lack of concrete evidence and manipulated the grand jury process to prevent witness testimony. They also highlighted inconsistencies in the children’s initial statements to the police, suggesting coaching by their parents after losing roles on the show.
During a hearing in September, Busfield’s attorney presented audio recordings of grand jurors requesting additional witness testimonies, which prosecutors allegedly obstructed. The defense accused the prosecution of misconduct, while the District Attorney contended that proper evidence submission protocols were not followed.
Busfield, who expressed the impact of the case on his life and career, vehemently denied the allegations during his testimony. The prosecution had sought a six-year prison term for each count in the indictment, which could have been increased.