Judge dismisses child sexual abuse case against director Timothy Busfield

A judge in New Mexico has dismissed child sexual abuse charges against actor and director Timothy Busfield, according to The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Deadline, and the New York Times. The ruling came on October 16, 2026, after the judge found that prosecutors failed to conduct themselves in a fair and impartial manner during the grand jury process. [1][2][3][4]

The criminal charges stemmed from alleged incidents involving minor actors on the set of the Fox and Warner Bros television series The Cleaning Lady, where Busfield worked as a director. According to Variety and Deadline, the allegations involved two minor boys and included charges of criminal sexual contact and child abuse filed earlier in the year. Variety noted that Busfield was indicted in February for allegedly groping a 7-year-old boy, while The Hollywood Reporter stated the alleged incidents occurred between 2022 and 2024. [1][3][4]

Busfield maintained his innocence and entered a plea of not guilty, according to the New York Times and Variety. His defense legal team successfully filed to toss the indictment, pointing to grand jury statute violations and prosecutorial misconduct. The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline reported that despite the dismissal, the district attorney is evaluating options and prosecutors may still attempt to refile the charges. [1][2][3][4]

Busfield is an Emmy Award-winning actor and prolific television director. He is known for his roles as Elliot Weston on Thirtysomething, Mark in the film Field of Dreams, and Danny Concannon on the drama series The West Wing. In 1991, he won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his work on Thirtysomething. [1][4][9]