Timothy Busfield Charges Dismissed by New Mexico Judge
The timothy busfield charges dismissed Friday in New Mexico end — for now — the criminal case against the veteran actor and director, after a judge found prosecutorial misconduct had tainted the grand jury proceedings.
State District Judge Joseph Montano of New Mexico’s 2nd Judicial District granted a defense motion to toss the indictment in a decision released Friday. The ruling said the prosecuting attorney “failed to act in a fair and impartial manner,” including by wrongly instructing grand jurors on the procedures for calling additional witnesses — an error the judge said had the practical effect of withholding witnesses the grand jurors had requested.
What Went Wrong in the Grand Jury
According to the ruling, the prosecutor told the 12 grand jurors that calling an additional witness would require a subpoena and 36 hours’ notice, without explaining that a judge could grant a shorter time frame or that witnesses could testify voluntarily. Montano found the proceedings violated grand jury statutes meant to protect the integrity of the process. Busfield’s attorney Amanda Fayerberg said in an email that her client was “relieved and grateful” after reading the decision.
The Case That Collapsed
Busfield, 69, was indicted in February on four counts of criminal sexual contact with a child, stemming from allegations involving twin boys who were 7 and 8 while he was directing Fox’s “The Cleaning Lady” in Albuquerque between late 2022 and early 2024. He turned himself in to police in January and was released pending trial; he repeatedly denied the accusations and pleaded not guilty to every count.
What Happens Next
Prosecutors have not decided whether to pursue another indictment, and the ruling leaves the door open for the case to be presented to a new grand jury. A spokesperson for the district attorney’s office said it was evaluating its options. Busfield’s wife, actor Melissa Gilbert, marked the ruling on Instagram with a Shakespeare quote — “So shines a good deed in a weary world” — and shared a New York Times article about the decision.
Source: CNN