Updated

Updated · USA TODAY · Jun 23

Timothy Busfield Seeks Dismissal of 4-Count Child Sex-Abuse Indictment in New Mexico

Updated

Updated · USA TODAY · Jun 23

Timothy Busfield Seeks Dismissal of 4-Count Child Sex-Abuse Indictment in New Mexico

Q: Did prosecutors hide key evidence to build their child abuse case against the actor?

There is no proven finding that prosecutors hid key evidence, but Busfield’s defense has formally accused them of doing so. In a 309-page motion filed June 18 in New Mexico, Timothy Busfield’s lawyers asked the court to dismiss the indictment, alleging prosecutorial misconduct in the grand jury process. They claim prosecutors withheld exculpatory material, including an independent Warner Bros. investigation that reportedly found no corroboration of the allegations, a polygraph Busfield says he passed, affidavits from crew members, and testimony from defense witnesses who were present and willing to testify. The motion also alleges prosecutors misrepresented the law and used misleading evidence, including a photograph. The Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office disputes that account. Prosecutors have said the indictment was returned by a neutral grand jury, that they acted in good faith, and that they did not improperly withhold information. So far, no judge has ruled that misconduct occurred. What is established is that Busfield was indicted on four counts of criminal sexual contact of a child after allegations involving two young actors on “The Cleaning Lady,” and he has pleaded not guilty. A judge will now have to decide whether the defense’s claims about the grand jury process justify throwing out the indictment. So the accurate answer is that the allegation has been made in court by the defense, but it remains unproven and contested by prosecutors.

3 articles · Updated · USA TODAY · Jun 23

A June 18 court filing asks a New Mexico judge to throw out Timothy Busfield’s four-count indictment, which was returned by a grand jury on Feb. 6.
Busfield’s motion argues prosecutors compromised evidence, his rights and the grand jury’s independence while pursuing charges tied to alleged abuse of two child actors.
The case stems from alleged incidents between late 2022 and early 2024 on Fox’s “The Cleaning Lady,” where prosecutors say Busfield abused twin boys ages 7 and 8.
Melissa Gilbert, Busfield’s wife since 2013, said June 23 she is leaving the couple’s Upper West Side apartment after eight years to live full time at their upstate home.
Busfield was arrested in January and has denied wrongdoing, with his lawyer calling the prosecution “fundamentally unsound” and vowing to fight the case at every stage.