New Mexico Judge Dismisses Child Sexual Abuse Charges Against Timothy Busfield
publishers 29articles 30first reported 16 Oct, 21:05 UTCdeveloping since 16 Oct · 9 editions
A New Mexico judge has dismissed an indictment accusing actor and director Timothy Busfield of criminal sexual contact with a child, finding that prosecutorial misconduct and procedural errors undermined the grand jury process.
State District Judge Joseph Montano granted the defense motion in a ruling released Friday. He wrote that the prosecutor failed to act fairly and impartially, including by improperly instructing grand jurors about calling witnesses and using a procedure that effectively withheld witnesses they had requested. Montano said the proceedings violated statutes intended to protect the integrity of the grand jury system.
The allegations arose from Busfield’s work directing the television series “The Cleaning Lady” in Albuquerque from 2022 to 2024. The parents of twin boys who were dropped from the show alleged that Busfield touched the children inappropriately on set. A criminal complaint said one boy reported being touched over his clothing when he was 7 and again when he was 8. His twin also reported being touched but did not specify where.
Busfield has repeatedly denied the allegations. His attorney, Amber Fayerberg, said witnesses who had been on set were available to testify but were not allowed to appear before the grand jury. Prosecutors said Friday they had not decided whether to seek another indictment.
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