Emmy Award-winning actor Timothy Busfield, renowned for his roles in ‘The West Wing’ and ‘Field of Dreams,’ faces serious legal challenges following a grand jury indictment in New Mexico. The 68-year-old actor and director has been formally charged with four counts of criminal sexual contact with a child, according to state prosecutors.
The allegations originated from child actors who worked with Busfield on the Albuquerque set of the Fox television series ‘The Cleaning Lady,’ where he served as both director and producer. The indictment, unsealed on Friday, supersedes previous charges filed by county prosecutors last month.
According to court documents reviewed by media outlets, the indictment alleges that between October 2022 and September 2023, Busfield “touched or applied force to the intimate parts” of an unnamed boy under the age of 13. Each felony count carries a potential prison sentence of six years upon conviction.
Busfield surrendered to authorities last month when an arrest warrant was issued but was subsequently released by Judge David A. Murphy pending trial. The release was granted on the actor’s own recognizance without bail, with the requirement that he appear at all future court proceedings.
The case has sparked significant legal debate. Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman emphasized that “protecting children remains a top priority for his office” while acknowledging that Busfield is “presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.”
Busfield’s defense team, led by civil attorney Stanton ‘Larry’ Stein and criminal defense lawyer Amber Fayerberg, maintains the allegations are “manufactured” and fundamentally unsound. They point to a recent detention hearing that they claim “exposed fatal weaknesses in the State’s evidence.”
The defense has presented over 70 character reference letters and claims Busfield passed a polygraph test pertaining to the allegations. Fayerberg argued that Busfield has already suffered professional consequences, having been dropped by his talent agency and edited out of an upcoming romantic comedy, despite not having been convicted of any wrongdoing.
Prosecutors previously alleged in arrest affidavits that Busfield groomed and sexually abused young actors who referred to him as “Uncle Tim” on set. The documents claim the inappropriate contact spanned several years, with one boy alleging it began when he was seven years old.
Busfield’s legal team suggests the accusations may be retaliatory, stemming from the children’s termination from the television series that angered their mother. The case is expected to proceed to trial through the New Mexico judicial system.
