A New Mexico grand jury has indicted actor Timothy Busfield on four felony counts of criminal sexual contact with a child, marking a serious legal turn for the Hollywood figure best known for his roles in television dramas such as “The West Wing” and “Thirtysomething.”
According to court records, the indictment was handed down Feb. 6. Busfield was released from custody while awaiting trial. He had been arrested in January after voluntarily surrendering to police on an active arrest warrant tied to the investigation.
Prosecutors emphasized the gravity of the case and the broader mission of the district attorney’s office. In a statement reported by ABC News, the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office said District Attorney Sam Bregman stressed that protecting children remains a top priority.
“The Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office remains committed to doing everything possible to protect children and ensure justice for victims,” the office said in its statement.
The charges stem from allegations that Busfield engaged in inappropriate touching of a child actor while working on the television series “The Cleaning Lady,” a show on which he both directed and appeared. The alleged conduct reportedly took place on set, raising concerns about the protection of minors working in the entertainment industry.
Busfield has not formally entered a plea in the case. However, according to a criminal complaint reviewed by ABC News, he previously denied all allegations when questioned by detectives during the investigation.
His legal team has pushed back forcefully against the prosecution. Larry Stein, one of Busfield’s attorneys, told ABC News that the grand jury indictment did not come as a surprise, while sharply criticizing the decision to move forward with the case.
“As the saying goes, a grand jury will indict a ham sandwich,” Stein said. He added that he believes the district attorney is proceeding with what he described as a case that is fundamentally unsound and incapable of being proven at trial.
Stein further argued that earlier court proceedings exposed serious problems for the prosecution. According to him, the detention hearing revealed what he characterized as fatal weaknesses in the state’s evidence, gaps he said cannot be fixed through charging decisions alone.
Another attorney representing Busfield, Amber Feyerburg, has also raised questions about the allegations. She previously claimed that the mother of the children involved in the case made statements suggesting she would seek revenge if the children were released. Feyerburg’s comments point to what the defense portrays as potential motive issues surrounding the accusations.
Adding to the complexity of the case, police audio recordings reportedly captured the children denying that Busfield touched them inappropriately during questioning. According to TMZ, those recordings show the children disputing the allegations during interviews with investigators.
Despite the defense’s arguments, the indictment means Busfield will now face the charges in court as the case proceeds through the legal system. Prosecutors have made clear that they intend to pursue the matter, underscoring their stated commitment to protecting minors and holding alleged offenders accountable.
As the legal process moves forward, the case places renewed scrutiny on allegations of misconduct in the entertainment industry and highlights the role of the courts in determining whether the claims can be substantiated beyond a reasonable doubt.
