Indictment Tossed Over Prosecutorial Errors
A judge in the US state of New Mexico has dismissed the indictment against actor Timothy Busfield, who was accused of sexually abusing a child. The ruling was issued on Friday (10/16/2026) by District Judge Joseph Montano of New Mexico's Second Judicial District Court.
In his decision, Montano found that the prosecutor 'failed to act in a fair and impartial manner' during the grand jury proceedings. The prosecutor allegedly failed to properly instruct jurors on the law for calling witnesses, so the jury's request to hear additional testimony was effectively blocked. That procedural violation, the judge wrote, damaged the structural integrity of the grand jury system and triggered a presumption of prejudice against the process.
Busfield Denies: All Allegations Are Lies
Busfield (69), known for the series The West Wing and the film Field of Dreams, has repeatedly denied all allegations, calling them revenge-motivated lies. Through his attorney Amanda Fayerberg, he said he was 'relieved and grateful' after reading the judge's decision.
His wife, actress Melissa Gilbert — star of Little House on the Prairie — welcomed the ruling with an Instagram post carrying a Shakespeare quote: 'So shines a good deed in a weary world.' She also shared a New York Times article about the dismissed indictment on her Instagram Story.
Case Background: Allegations on a TV Set
The case began while Busfield was directing the television series The Cleaning Lady in 2022-2024. The parents of twin boys who had appeared on the show accused Busfield of inappropriately touching their children on the Albuquerque set. In February 2026, a grand jury indicted him on four counts of criminal sexual contact of a child.
Busfield turned himself in to police in January 2026 and was released on bail pending trial, after a judge found no pattern of similar criminal conduct in his past. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges from the start.
Prosecutors May Seek a New Indictment
The dismissal does not end the case. Montano's ruling explicitly does not bar prosecutors from bringing the case before a new grand jury. The Bernalillo County District Attorney's Office said it is still evaluating the decision and has not decided whether to pursue a new indictment.
The senior actor's legal fate therefore remains in limbo — between full freedom and a second round of legal proceedings in New Mexico.
No comments yet. Be the first!