Actor Timothy Busfield Faces Indictment on Child Sexual Contact Charges
Actor Timothy Busfield, known for his roles in “West Wing” and “Field of Dreams,” has been indicted on four counts of criminal sexual contact with a child under the age of 13. The indictment was announced by a New Mexico prosecutor, with the charges linked to Busfield’s role as a director on the TV series “The Cleaning Lady” from 2022 to 2024.
Busfield has firmly denied these accusations, which were initially brought forward by police. His defense attorney has stated that Busfield will “fight these charges at every stage.” The announcement of the indictment was made by Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman via social media.
In January, Busfield surrendered to authorities but was released by a judge who found no evidence of a recurring pattern of misconduct or similar allegations from the past. Larry Stein, Busfield’s attorney, refrained from commenting directly on the sexual contact charges. However, he noted that the grand jury did not support grooming charges that prosecutors had pursued. The prosecution has not disclosed details about the allegations presented to the grand jury.
Stein’s statement highlighted “fatal weaknesses in the state’s evidence,” suggesting that no procedural changes could address these issues. He reiterated that Busfield looks forward to challenging the state’s case in court.
According to a criminal complaint filed by the Albuquerque Police Department, a boy reported that Busfield touched him inappropriately over his clothing when he was 7 and again at 8. The boy’s twin brother also alleged inappropriate contact but initially remained silent for fear of repercussions. The indictment, submitted to state District Court, accuses Busfield of touching or applying force to a boy’s intimate parts on several occasions.
During a previous detention hearing, Busfield’s legal team pointed out that in initial police interviews, the boys claimed no inappropriate contact occurred. His attorneys accused the boys’ parents of coaching them into making incriminating statements after losing roles on the show. Assistant District Attorney Savannah Brandenburg-Koch countered these claims, citing robust evidence against Busfield, supported by medical findings and testimony from the boys’ therapist. Witnesses also expressed concerns over potential retaliation and professional harm.
The prosecution has outlined alleged grooming behaviors and an abuse of power over a span of three decades by Busfield. Despite the severity of the charges, Judge David Murphy decided to release Busfield on January 20, citing insufficient evidence to prove the public would be unsafe if Busfield were released.
A grand jury indictment allows the legal proceedings against Busfield to move forward toward a potential trial without the need for a preliminary hearing on the evidence.
Busfield is widely recognized for his work on shows like “The West Wing,” “Field of Dreams,” and “Thirtysomething.”
