“West Wing” and “Field of Dreams” actor Timothy Busfield was indicted by a New Mexico grand jury on four counts of criminal sexual contact with a child under age 13, Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman announced Friday.
Bregman said the allegations are tied to Busfield’s work as a director on the set of the TV series “The Cleaning Lady” from 2022 to 2024, according to the reporting. The indictment was filed in state District Court, and each of the four counts carries a possible penalty of six years in prison that can be enhanced if the case involves a sexual offense, prosecutors said.
Busfield has denied the allegations. A defense attorney, Larry Stein, said in response to the indictment that Busfield would “fight these charges at every stage” and that his legal team would test the state’s case in open court.
Stein’s statement characterized the evidence as having “fatal weaknesses,” saying that a detention hearing already “exposed fatal weaknesses in the state’s evidence — gaps that no amount of charging decisions can cure.” Stein also said the grand jury declined to endorse grooming charges sought by prosecutors, and prosecutors did not comment on what accusations the grand jury brought before it.
At an earlier stage, Albuquerque Police Department investigators said a boy reported that Busfield touched his private areas over his clothing when the child was 7 and again when he was 8, according to the initial criminal complaint. The complaint said the boy’s twin also told authorities he was touched by Busfield, but that he did not say anything right away because he did not want to get in trouble.
The indictment, which reiterates allegations that Busfield “touched or applied force to the intimate parts” of one of the boys on several occasions, comes after Busfield turned himself in to authorities in January on related charges filed by police and was released from jail by a judge. Judge David Murphy determined at that time that prosecutors did not prove the public would not be safe if Busfield was released, according to reporting, and said there was no pattern of criminal conduct or similar allegations in Busfield’s past.
Prosecutors said they have evidence supporting their claims. Assistant District Attorney Savannah Brandenburg-Koch called the evidence of abuse “strong and specific,” with support from medical findings and the boys’ therapist, and she said witnesses expressed fear about potential retaliation and professional harm.
Busfield is best known for appearances on “The West Wing,” “Field of Dreams” and “Thirtysomething.” The grand jury indictment allows the case to move toward possible trial without a preliminary courtroom hearing on evidence, according to the reporting.
This story has been tracking developments since Busfield’s earlier release pending trial; MSI previously reported that he was released while the case moved toward further proceedings. MSI previously reported that he was released pending trial.
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