Timothy Busfield, known for his roles in popular shows like “West Wing” and “Field of Dreams,” is facing serious legal trouble as a grand jury in New Mexico has indicted him on four counts of criminal sexual contact with a child under the age of 13. The charges stem from his time as a director on the TV series “The Cleaning Lady” between 2022 and 2024.
Despite the allegations brought forward by the police, Busfield has vehemently denied them, with his defense attorney stating that he will vigorously contest the charges through all legal avenues. The indictment was announced by Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman via a social media post.
In January, Busfield surrendered to authorities in response to related accusations by the police. However, he was released from custody by a judge who did not find any prior criminal behavior or similar allegations involving children in Busfield’s past. The grand jury indictment now paves the way for the case against Busfield to proceed towards a potential trial without the need for a preliminary courtroom hearing on the evidence.
Larry Stein, Busfield’s attorney, refrained from directly addressing the sexual contact charge outlined in the indictment. He mentioned that the grand jury did not support grooming charges sought by the prosecutors. Stein emphasized that the detention hearing had already revealed significant weaknesses in the state’s evidence, which he believes cannot be rectified through charging decisions.
An investigator from the Albuquerque Police Department revealed that a young boy reported instances where Busfield allegedly touched his private areas over his clothing when he was seven and eight years old. The boy’s twin also disclosed similar experiences but did not speak up immediately due to fear of repercussions.
The indictment, submitted in state District Court, reiterates the allegations of Busfield engaging in inappropriate touching of the boys’ intimate parts on multiple occasions. Prosecutors have highlighted a pattern of grooming behavior and abuse of power by Busfield spanning three decades.
Each count in the indictment carries a potential six-year prison sentence, with the possibility of enhancement for sexual offenses. Despite the serious nature of the charges, Busfield was released on bail on January 20, as the court did not find sufficient evidence to demonstrate a threat to public safety if he was to be released.
Timothy Busfield, who is married to actor Melissa Gilbert, is a well-known figure in the entertainment industry, having garnered fame for his roles in “The West Wing,” “Field of Dreams,” and “Thirtysomething,” the latter of which earned him an Emmy award in 1991 for outstanding supporting actor in a drama series.