Timothy Busfield's Child Abuse Charges Dismissed by Court

WHO:

NY Post - Timothy Busfield, actor known for "West Wing" and "Field of Dreams"

Variety - Timothy Busfield, indicted in February

ABC News - Timothy Busfield, actor and director

Deadline - Timothy Busfield, Emmy winner

WHAT:

US Magazine - Judge Joseph Montano granted the actor's motion to quash the indictment on four counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor.

ABC News - The indictment included four counts of sexual contact with a minor.

CNN - The judge's decision to dismiss the indictment was released on a Friday.

CNN - Prosecutors stated they had not yet decided whether to pursue another indictment against Busfield.

CNN - The case stems from when Busfield was directing the TV series “The Cleaning Lady” from 2022 to 2024.

CNN - Busfield turned himself in and was released from jail pending trial by a judge who found no pattern of criminal conduct or similar allegations involving children in Busfield’s past.

CNN - In June, Busfield’s attorneys officially asked the court to throw out the indictment, alleging that prosecutors were “willfully blind to the lack of evidence.”

CNN - “The state engaged in egregious prosecutorial misconduct,” Fayerberg said.

CNN - Prosecutors had said each count in the indictment carried a possible penalty of six years in prison that could be enhanced.

CNN - “We know this may not be the end,” Fayerberg said. “If the State chooses to try again, Tim is ready, and so are those witnesses.”

Variety - The judge's decision to dismiss the indictment was made due to prosecutorial misconduct and errors that undermined the grand jury process.

ABC News - The indictment against Busfield included four counts of sexual contact with a minor.

CNN - Prosecutors stated they had not yet decided whether to pursue another indictment against Busfield.

IJR - The judge found that prosecutors mishandled the proceedings by withholding requested witnesses and making errors in instructing jurors.

Deadline - The dismissal of the charges occurred almost a year after Busfield was charged with two counts of criminal sexual contact with a minor and child abuse stemming from alleged incidents involving two minor boys.

CNN - The parents of two twin boys who were let go from the show claimed that Busfield inappropriately touched the children on the set in Albuquerque.

CNN - The indictment allowed the case to proceed without a preliminary hearing on evidence.

CNN - Busfield’s attorneys noted that the children told police during initial interviews that Busfield didn’t touch them inappropriately and accused the boys’ parents of coaching their children to give incriminating statements after the boys lost lucrative roles on the show.

CNN - During a September hearing, Fayerberg played audio recordings of grand jurors asking to hear from additional witnesses, stating that prosecutors wrongly informed jurors that subpoenas would be needed, even though those witnesses were “present, available and willing to testify.”

CNN - Bernalillo County District Attorney Greer Staley countered that the defense hadn’t followed the correct process for submitting evidence to a grand jury and that Busfield himself improperly and “excessively” tried to steer grand jurors toward favorable witnesses and exhibits during his three-hour testimony.

CNN - According to the transcripts of the proceedings submitted by Busfield’s attorneys, the actor also known for appearances in “Thirtysomething” told jurors that the case had turned his life upside down and affected his entire family.

CNN - Busfield also testified that he had nothing to hide and when asked about the allegations that he had caressed the children, he answered: “I’m saying that is absolutely one gazillion percent untrue. Never ever.”

CNN - “We know this may not be the end,” Fayerberg said. “If the State chooses to try again, Tim is ready, and so are those witnesses.”

US Magazine - Judge Joseph Montano granted the actor's motion to quash the indictment on four counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor.

ABC News - The indictment included four counts of criminal sexual contact with a child.

Deadline - The dismissal of the charges was granted by State District Judge Joseph Montano.

CNN - The judge's decision to dismiss the indictment was released on a Friday.

CNN - Prosecutors stated they had not yet decided whether to pursue another indictment against Busfield.

ABC News - The indictment against Busfield included four counts of sexual contact with a minor.

Deadline - The dismissal of the charges occurred almost a year after Busfield was charged.

CNN - Prosecutors stated they had not yet decided whether to pursue another indictment against Busfield.

CNN - Busfield has repeatedly denied the allegations, describing them as lies motivated by revenge.

CNN - In an email, Busfield’s attorney Amanda Fayerberg stated he was “relieved and grateful” after reading the judge’s decision.

CNN - The case stems from when Busfield was directing the TV series “The Cleaning Lady” from 2022 to 2024.

CNN - According to a criminal complaint, a boy reported that Busfield touched him on his private areas over his clothing on one occasion when he was 7 years old and another time when he was 8.

CNN - The boy’s twin brother told authorities he was also touched by Busfield but did not specify where and didn’t say anything because he didn’t want to get in trouble.

CNN - The grand jury indictment followed just weeks later, reiterating allegations that Busfield “touched or applied force to the intimate parts” of one of the boys on several occasions.

CNN - Busfield’s attorneys noted that the children told police during initial interviews that Busfield didn’t touch them inappropriately.

CNN - In June, Busfield’s attorneys officially asked the court to throw out the indictment, alleging that prosecutors were “willfully blind to the lack of evidence.”

CNN - During a September hearing, Fayerberg played audio recordings of grand jurors asking to hear from additional witnesses.

CNN - The transcripts of the proceedings submitted by Busfield’s attorneys indicated that he testified that the case had turned his life upside down and affected his entire family.

CNN - Busfield testified that he had been “canceled,” meaning he lost work and was fired by his agency.

CNN - Busfield also testified, “I’m saying that is absolutely one gazillion percent untrue. Never ever.”

CNN - Prosecutors had said each count in the indictment carried a possible penalty of six years in prison that could be enhanced.

CNN - “We know this may not be the end,” Fayerberg said. “If the State chooses to try again, Tim is ready, and so are those witnesses.”

CNN - The judge's decision to dismiss the indictment was released on a Friday.

CNN - The indictment included allegations of groping a 7-year-old boy on the set of "The Cleaning Lady."

CNN - Each count in the indictment carried a possible penalty of six years in prison that could be enhanced.

CNN - Busfield's attorney stated, "If the State chooses to try again, Tim is ready, and so are those witnesses."

NY Post - A New Mexico judge dismissed an indictment against Timothy Busfield for criminal sexual contact with a child.

Variety - The indictment against Busfield was thrown out due to prosecutorial misconduct during grand jury proceedings.

ABC News - The indictment included four counts of sexual contact with a minor.

Deadline - The case against Busfield involved two counts of criminal sexual contact with a minor and child abuse.

WHERE:

NY Post - Albuquerque, New Mexico

Variety - The set of "The Cleaning Lady," a Fox show

WHY:

IJR - The judge found that prosecutors mishandled the proceedings by withholding requested witnesses and making errors in instructing jurors.

CNN - The judge cited that prosecutors failed to act in an impartial manner during the grand jury proceedings.

IJR - The judge found that prosecutors mishandled the proceedings by withholding requested witnesses and making errors in instructing jurors.

CNN - The judge cited that prosecutors failed to act in an impartial manner during the grand jury proceedings.

NY Post - The judge cited prosecutorial misconduct and errors that undermined the grand jury process as reasons for dismissing the charges.

Variety - Prosecutors failed to act in an impartial manner during the grand jury proceedings.

HOW:

Deadline - The defense motion led to the dismissal of the charges against Busfield due to prosecutorial misconduct.

CNN - The defense motion led to the dismissal of the charges against Busfield due to prosecutorial misconduct.

CNN - Busfield's attorneys played audio recordings of grand jurors asking to hear from additional witnesses during a September hearing.

Deadline - The defense motion led to the dismissal of the charges against Busfield.

(UPDATED October 17, 2026 19:56 UTC)

A judge has granted actor Tim Busfield's motion to quash an indictment that included four counts of criminal sexual contact with a minor, dismissing the charges due to a lack of evidence. Prosecutors have not yet decided whether they will pursue another indictment against Busfield, who turned himself in and was released from jail after the judge found no pattern of criminal conduct in his past. Busfield's attorney has stated that if the state chooses to try again, Busfield and the witnesses are prepared to respond.

(UPDATED October 17, 2026 11:55 UTC)

A judge has dismissed the indictment against Busfield, citing prosecutorial misconduct and errors that compromised the grand jury process. The indictment included four counts of sexual contact with a minor, but the judge found that prosecutors mishandled the case by withholding requested witnesses and improperly instructing jurors. Prosecutors have not yet decided whether they will pursue another indictment against Busfield.

(UPDATED October 17, 2026 09:56 UTC)

Tim Busfield has had the charges against him dismissed nearly a year after being accused of criminal sexual contact with two minor boys, with the parents claiming inappropriate behavior occurred on set in Albuquerque. During the proceedings, Busfield's attorneys argued that the children initially stated he did not touch them inappropriately and suggested that the parents may have influenced their testimonies after the boys lost their roles. Following the dismissal, Busfield expressed that the case had significantly impacted his life and family, while his attorney mentioned that if the state decides to pursue the matter again, Busfield and the witnesses are prepared to respond.

(UPDATED October 17, 2026 05:55 UTC)

A judge has granted the motion to quash the indictment against actor Busfield, which included four counts of criminal sexual contact with a minor. The decision came after the judge found that prosecutors mishandled the case by withholding requested witnesses and making errors in instructing jurors. As a result of this prosecutorial misconduct, the charges against Busfield have been dismissed.

(UPDATED October 17, 2026 03:57 UTC)

A state district judge has granted the dismissal of charges against Busfield, citing prosecutorial misconduct, including the withholding of requested witnesses and errors in jury instructions. The judge found that the prosecutors did not act impartially during the grand jury proceedings, which led to this decision. While the indictment has been dismissed, prosecutors have not yet decided if they will pursue another indictment against Busfield.

(UPDATED October 17, 2026 02:05 UTC)

The charges against Busfield, which included four counts of sexual contact with a minor, have been dismissed nearly a year after he was initially indicted. A judge determined that the prosecution mishandled the case by withholding requested witnesses and making errors in jury instructions, leading to the dismissal based on prosecutorial misconduct. Prosecutors have not yet made a decision on whether to pursue another indictment against Busfield.

(UPDATED October 17, 2026 01:17 UTC)

Tim Busfield has denied allegations against him, calling them lies driven by revenge, and expressed relief after a judge's decision through his attorney, Amanda Fayerberg. The case involves accusations from two boys, one of whom reported inappropriate touching by Busfield when he was seven and again at eight, while the boys initially told police that nothing inappropriate occurred. Fayerberg indicated that the situation may not be over, stating, “If the State chooses to try again, Tim is ready, and so are those witnesses.”

(UPDATED October 16, 2026 23:56 UTC)

A judge has dismissed the indictment against Tim Busfield, which included serious allegations of groping a 7-year-old boy on the set of "The Cleaning Lady," citing that prosecutors did not act impartially during the grand jury proceedings. Each count in the indictment carried a potential penalty of six years in prison, but Busfield's attorney expressed confidence, stating that if the State decides to retry the case, Tim is prepared along with the witnesses. During a September hearing, Busfield's legal team presented audio recordings of grand jurors requesting to hear from more witnesses, highlighting concerns about the grand jury process.

(UPDATED October 16, 2026 22:57 UTC)

A New Mexico judge has dismissed an indictment against actor and director Timothy Busfield, known for his roles in "West Wing" and "Field of Dreams," due to prosecutorial misconduct during grand jury proceedings. The indictment, which included four counts of sexual contact with a minor and child abuse, was thrown out after the defense successfully argued that errors undermined the grand jury process. The judge's ruling came from Albuquerque, where the case was linked to the set of the Fox show "The Cleaning Lady."