Disturbing Allegations: Timothy Busfield Indicted on 4 Counts of Criminal Sexual Contact With a Child
Timothy Busfield, the Emmy-winning actor and director best known for roles on “The West Wing,” “Thirtysomething,” and other projects, was indicted by a New Mexico grand jury on four felony counts of criminal sexual contact with a child, prosecutors announced Friday afternoon. The 68-year-old surrendered to authorities earlier this year on related charges and now faces a legal battle that could stretch into a full trial in Bernalillo County.
What the Indictment Says
According to CNN, a grand jury in New Mexico returned the indictment charging Busfield with four counts of criminal sexual contact with a child under the age of 13 — all third-degree felonies under state law. The charges stem from allegations that Busfield sexually abused a young child while he was directing and acting on the set of the TV drama “The Cleaning Lady” between 2022 and 2024.
According to officials, the alleged incidents involved two 11-year-old twin boys whom Busfield met through production work. One of the boys reportedly told investigators that Busfield touched his private areas multiple times when he was seven and eight years old, and his twin brother also reported inappropriate contact.
Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman highlighted that the Busfield indictment allows the case to proceed without a preliminary hearing and signals prosecutors’ confidence that there’s enough evidence to present to a trial jury. Prosecutors said the case will be handled by the Special Victims Unit.
Timothy Busfield’s Response and Defense
Busfield has publicly denied all wrongdoing. In a video released before his surrender earlier this month, he insisted he was innocent of the accusations and called the claims “lies.” His defense team argues that the indictment was “not unexpected” given prosecutors’ approach, but stressed that the case contains what they see as serious evidentiary weaknesses that will be tested at trial.
According to NBC, his attorney, Larry Stein, has criticized the prosecution’s decision to pursue the case, asserting that it appears to be driven by motivations other than solid legal evidence. Defense statements emphasize Busfield’s intention to fight the charges, stating, “Mr. Busfield will fight these charges at every stage and looks forward to testing the State’s case in open court — where evidence matters — not behind closed doors.”
Legal Process So Far
Busfield first turned himself in to law enforcement in Albuquerque in January after an arrest warrant was issued. He was initially held without bond but was released under supervision later that month after a judge determined there was no proven pattern of prior criminal conduct involving children.
The grand jury’s indictment now formalizes the state’s case and paves the way for Busfield to be arraigned — a hearing where he will be expected to enter a formal plea. An arraignment date had not been publicly scheduled at press time, but attorneys have indicated they are preparing for forthcoming court appearances.
Broader Allegations and Public Reaction
The indictment zeroes in on those four counts of criminal sexual contact with a child, but the case has pulled in a wider spotlight because of other allegations floating around in court documents and media coverage. At one point, separate claims involving an older teenager in another state surfaced around the time of Busfield’s arrest. Those accusations made noise, but they’re not part of the New Mexico grand jury indictment.
The case has also led to industry actions, including re-evaluations of Busfield’s involvement in certain projects and reactions from colleagues. Broadcast partners and producers have been placed in a delicate position, balancing public concern with legal presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
What Comes Next
Because an indictment simply means a grand jury found probable cause to charge Busfield — it does not mean he’s guilty — the next steps are critical. The next stretch of this case is going to be all about the grind — pretrial motions, evidence fights, and the slow, messy buildup to a full trial. Defense attorneys have already made it clear they’re gearing up to go hard at the prosecution’s evidence once they’re in front of a judge.
As things move forward, both sides will be laying out their arguments piece by piece over the coming months. For now, the Busfield indictment stands as a major legal turning point — one that drags serious allegations into the public spotlight and puts the longtime actor at the center of one of the most high‑profile criminal cases tied to an entertainment figure in recent memory.
