SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Actor Timothy Busfield, recognized for his performances in The West Wing and Field of Dreams, has been indicted on four counts of criminal sexual contact with a child under 13. This announcement came from the Bernalillo County District Attorney's office on Friday, linking the allegations to Busfield's direction of the TV series The Cleaning Lady from 2022 until 2024.
Busfield has strongly denied the allegations, with his attorney asserting that they will vigorously contest the charges throughout the legal process. The indictment, shared via social media by District Attorney Sam Bregman, permits the case to continue towards trial without a preliminary courtroom hearing on evidence.
In January, Busfield surrendered to authorities in connection to similar allegations. Following his release, a judge commented that there was no evidence of a pattern of criminal activity in the actor's history involving children. Busfield's defense attorney noted that the grand jury did not support grooming charges that prosecutors had sought.
During previous court proceedings, Busfield's legal team highlighted weaknesses in the state's evidence. They alleged that the parents may have influenced the children's testimonies following the loss of acting roles on the show. However, district attorney Savannah Brandenburg-Koch defended the substantial nature of the claims, pointing to corroborating medical findings and statements from therapists of the children, as well as concerns about retaliation affecting witnesses.
Each count against Busfield carries a potential six-year prison sentence, which could increase if classified as a sexual offense. Buzzfield, having starred in various shows including Thirtysomething, now faces a challenging road ahead as the case unfolds.
