Actor Timothy Busfield, known for his roles in “West Wing” and “Field of Dreams,” faces four charges of criminal sexual contact with a child under 13, as revealed by a New Mexico prosecutor. The accusations stem from Busfield’s directorial work on the TV series “The Cleaning Lady” between 2022 and 2024. Busfield has refuted the allegations, which were first brought to court by law enforcement, with his defense attorney vowing to contest the charges vigorously.
Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman disclosed the indictment via a social media post. Busfield voluntarily surrendered to authorities in January in connection with related charges but was released from custody by a judge who found no prior instances of similar allegations in his history. The grand jury’s decision now paves the way for the case against Busfield to move forward without a preliminary court hearing.
In response, Larry Stein, representing Busfield, noted that the grand jury dismissed grooming charges sought by prosecutors and refrained from commenting on the specific sexual contact charge. Stein emphasized that critical flaws in the state’s evidence were exposed during a detention hearing. He affirmed Busfield’s determination to challenge the charges through the legal process.
An investigator from the Albuquerque Police Department detailed how a young boy reported instances where Busfield allegedly touched his private areas when he was seven and eight years old. The boy’s twin also claimed to have been a victim but hesitated to report it initially. The recent court filing restates allegations of repeated inappropriate touching by Busfield.
During the detention hearing, Busfield’s legal team highlighted inconsistencies in the children’s statements and accused their parents of influencing their testimonies after losing acting roles. However, Assistant District Attorney Savannah Brandenburg-Koch asserted the strength of the evidence against Busfield, citing medical findings and the boys’ therapist’s support. Prosecutors have also outlined a pattern of grooming behavior and misuse of power by Busfield spanning three decades.
Each charge in the indictment carries a potential sentence of six years in prison, with the possibility of enhancement for sexual offenses. Despite the gravity of the accusations involving children, the judge who released Busfield in January stated that the prosecution had not demonstrated a risk to public safety by granting his release.
Busfield, married to actor Melissa Gilbert, is renowned for his performances in “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.
