On October 16, 2026, a New Mexico judge dismissed the indictment that had been filed against actor Timothy Busfield on charges of alleged sexual contact with a child. The ruling came after the judge concluded that prosecutors had engaged in misconduct and made errors that compromised the grand jury’s work. The decision underscores the importance of fair and impartial legal proceedings.
The case originated from accusations of inappropriate touching that allegedly occurred on the set of the television series "The Cleaning Lady." According to the summaries provided, Busfield has repeatedly denied those allegations.
The judge cited prosecutorial misconduct as the basis for dismissing the charges, including a failure to properly instruct the grand jury about its duties and the evidence it should consider. According to attorney Amber Fayerberg, the grand jurors kept asking to hear from the people who were on set with him, and those witnesses were sitting in the hallway ready to testify.
The order focused on whether the process that led to the indictment had been conducted correctly.
Following its assessment, the judge granted the motion to dismiss the indictment against Busfield. The judge's decision means that the formal charges brought by the state are no longer pending. The order focused on whether the process that led to the indictment had been conducted correctly.
Busfield’s attorney expressed relief and gratitude at the judge’s ruling. In a statement quoted in the proceedings, Amber Fayerberg said, "The grand jurors kept asking to hear from the people who were on set with him, Those witnesses were sitting in the hallway, ready to tell the grand jury what they saw, and what they saw shows that Tim is innocent."
Prosecutors have not yet decided whether to pursue another indictment against Busfield. The decision highlights the importance of fair and impartial legal proceedings.