Actor Timothy Busfield Indicted on Child Sexual Contact Charges
Emmy-winning actor Timothy Busfield has been indicted in New Mexico on four counts of criminal sexual contact of a child, according to prosecutors.
The charges arise from allegations made by child actors who worked with Busfield on the New Mexico set of the Fox series The Cleaning Lady, which he directed and produced.
The grand jury indictment, unsealed on Friday, includes state charges that supersede earlier charges announced by the county prosecutor last month.
The 68-year-old actor, known for roles in The West Wing and Field of Dreams, has denied the allegations. He surrendered to state authorities last month after a warrant was issued for his arrest. A judge subsequently ordered his release pending trial.
Busfield was initially taken into custody in Albuquerque on two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse.
"As with all criminal proceedings, Mr Busfield is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. This case will proceed through the judicial process and is expected to move forward to trial,"said Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman upon announcing the indictment.
He emphasized that protecting children remains a top priority for his office.
The indictment, reviewed by the BBC, states that between 19 October 2022 and 10 September 2023, Busfield "touched or applied force to the intimate parts" of one of the unnamed boys when he was under the age of 13.
The felony charges carry a penalty of six years in prison per count, according to court documents.
Busfield's civil attorney, Stanton "Larry" Stein, issued a statement to the BBC expressing that the indictment was not unexpected but described it as "deeply concerning" that the district attorney is proceeding with a case he considers "fundamentally unsound and cannot be proven at trial."
Stein referenced last month's detention hearing, stating it "exposed fatal weaknesses in the State's evidence - gaps that no amount of charging decisions can cure."
"This prosecution appears driven by something other than the facts or the law. Mr Busfield will fight these charges at every stage and looks forward to testing the State's case in open court - where evidence matters - not behind closed doors,"he added.
Judge David A Murphy authorized Busfield's release on his own recognizance and without bail in January, requiring him to appear at all future court dates.
During the January hearing in Albuquerque, Busfield's criminal defense lawyer Amber Fayerberg argued against the claim that Busfield was "exploiting his power," stating he no longer held any such power.
"He is persona non grata, and that's not because he did anything wrong ... that's because of the world we live in,"she said.
Fayerberg noted that Busfield had been "cancelled" by the state, dropped by his talent agency, and removed from a recent romantic comedy that was about to be released.
The defense submitted over 70 letters attesting to Busfield's character and stated that he had undergone and passed a polygraph test related to the allegations.
The defense lawyer asserted there was overwhelming evidence that the allegations were "manufactured."
Details of Allegations and Arrest
In the arrest warrant, prosecutors alleged that the parents of the boys claimed Busfield groomed and sexually abused the children while working on the set of The Cleaning Lady.
Authorities reported that the boys referred to Busfield as "Uncle Tim" and alleged he "would tickle them on the stomach and legs." Both boys told authorities they were inappropriately touched for years, according to the arrest affidavit.
One boy alleged that Busfield touched his private areas. The boy stated that the inappropriate touching began when he was seven years old and that he was afraid to speak out because he "feared" Busfield would "get mad at him."
Busfield's lawyers have claimed the accusations are acts of revenge following the termination of the children from the series, which reportedly angered their mother.
