New Mexico judge dismisses Timothy Busfield child sex abuse indictment

A New Mexico judge has dismissed child sexual abuse charges against director and actor Timothy Busfield, according to The Hollywood Reporter, The Wrap, Variety, and Deadline. Judge Joseph Montano ruled that prosecutors failed to act in a fair and impartial manner during grand jury proceedings, violating statutory standards. The decision clears the current charges against the 69-year-old filmmaker. [1][2][3][5]

The criminal charges included counts of sexual contact with a minor and child abuse, according to The Wrap and Deadline. The charges stem from alleged incidents involving child actors on the set of the Fox drama series The Cleaning Lady, which Busfield directed between 2022 and 2024. Variety reported that Busfield was indicted in February, with accusations involving alleged groping of a seven-year-old boy on set. Busfield has maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings. [1][2][3][5]

Busfield played Elliot Weston on the television series Thirtysomething and Mark in the film Field of Dreams, and he won an Emmy Award in 1991 for his role on Thirtysomething. He also appeared as Danny Concannon on The West Wing before focusing extensively on television directing. [1][10]

The dismissal leaves open the possibility for state prosecutors to refile charges against Busfield, according to The Hollywood Reporter and TV Insider. According to Deadline, the local District Attorney stated that the office is currently evaluating its options regarding how to proceed with the case. [1][4][5]