Actor Timothy Busfield, known for his roles in TV series such as West Wing and Field of Dreams, has been charged by a grand jury with four counts of criminal sexual contact involving a child under the age of 13, according to a New Mexico prosecutor’s announcement on Friday. The charges stem from Busfield’s tenure as a director on the television show The Cleaning Lady between 2022 and 2024.
Busfield has refuted the allegations, which were initially brought to court by law enforcement. His defense attorney stated that he intends to vigorously contest the charges. The indictment was disclosed by Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman through a social media post.
Despite turning himself in to authorities in January on related charges, Busfield was released from custody by a judge who found no prior criminal behavior or similar accusations involving children in Busfield’s history. The grand jury’s indictment allows the legal proceedings against Busfield to move forward without a preliminary evidentiary hearing.
Larry Stein, Busfield’s legal counsel, did not directly address the specific charges in the indictment but mentioned that the grand jury did not support grooming charges as pursued by prosecutors. Stein emphasized that critical deficiencies in the state’s evidence were revealed during a detention hearing and asserted that Busfield is prepared to challenge the state’s case openly in court.
An investigator from the Albuquerque Police Department reported that a boy alleged Busfield had inappropriately touched him over his clothing when he was seven and then again at age eight. The boy’s sibling also claimed to have been similarly touched by Busfield but did not disclose it immediately out of fear of repercussions.
The official indictment, filed in a state District Court on Friday, reiterates the accusations that Busfield engaged in inappropriate contact with one of the boys on multiple occasions. During a detention hearing, Busfield’s legal team highlighted inconsistencies in the children’s statements to the police, suggesting possible coaching by their parents after losing roles on the show.
Despite Busfield’s release following his initial arrest, Assistant District Attorney Savannah Brandenburg-Koch asserted that the evidence against him is substantial and precise, supported by medical findings and the children’s therapist. Prosecutors have alleged a pattern of grooming behavior and misuse of authority by Busfield spanning three decades.
Each charge in the indictment against Busfield carries a potential sentence of six years in prison, with the possibility of enhancement for sexual offenses, according to the prosecutors. State District Court Judge David Murphy, when releasing Busfield on January 20, noted the inherent danger of the alleged crimes involving children but found insufficient evidence to prove a risk to public safety if Busfield were to be freed.
Timothy Busfield, married to actor Melissa Gilbert, is most recognized for his roles in The West Wing, Field of Dreams, and Thirtysomething, which earned him an Emmy award for outstanding supporting actor in a drama series in 1991.
