In brief
Timothy Busfield, known for roles in 'The West Wing' and 'Field of Dreams,' was indicted by a grand jury for four counts of criminal sexual contact with a child under 13, stemming from his work on the TV series 'The Cleaning Lady.' He has denied the charges and intends to fight them. The allegations involve inappropriate touching reported by two boys who were on set. Prosecutors claim there is strong evidence of grooming behavior. Each charge carries a potential six-year prison sentence.
SANTA FE, N.M. — Timothy Busfield, the acclaimed actor recognized for his roles in 'The West Wing' and 'Field of Dreams,' has been indicted by a grand jury on four counts of criminal sexual contact with a child under the age of 13. This significant development was reported by a New Mexico prosecutor on Friday, linking the charges to incidents occurring on the set of the series 'The Cleaning Lady' during his direction from 2022 to 2024.Busfield has categorically denied all allegations, which were initially filed by police, and his defense attorney affirmed that he would vigorously contest each charge throughout the various stages of the legal process. The Bernalillo County District Attorney, Sam Bregman, shared the indictment news via social media, stating that the case can now proceed without a preliminary hearing.Previously, Busfield voluntarily surrendered to authorities in January concerning related police charges and was released from jail. During his release, a judge noted there were no prior allegations of similar conduct involving children in his past, which played a crucial role in the decision. However, the recent indictment allows for further legal action against him without needing a preliminary courtroom examination of the evidence.Busfield's attorney, Larry Stein, commented that the grand jury did not support additional grooming charges sought by prosecutors but did not clarify the specific allegations presented to the grand jury. The indictment reiterated claims that Busfield had inappropriately touched and used force on the intimate parts of one of the boys several times. Per the initial police complaint, one boy reported being touched when he was seven and again when he was eight, while his twin brother corroborated these allegations after initially not speaking up.The accusations against Busfield have been compounded by prosecutors, who outline claims of fostering an environment of grooming behavior and abusing authority over his decades-long career. Additionally, they noted the potential for enhanced penalties should these charges be convicted, with each count carrying a six-year prison term attached.In the midst of these accusations, an investigator from the Albuquerque Police Department referenced strong and specific evidence supporting the claims of abuse, including medical findings and input from the children's therapist. Witnesses had expressed concerns about potential retaliation and repercussions in their professional lives as well. Busfield, meanwhile, remains insistent on fighting these charges, with his legal team citing apparent weaknesses in the presented evidence during a detention hearing.Timothy Busfield is widely known for his contributions to television and film, including celebrated roles in 'The West Wing,' 'Field of Dreams,' and 'Thirtysomething.'
