Actor and director Timothy Busfield is asking a New Mexico court to throw out the grand jury indictment that charges him with child sexual abuse, arguing prosecutors committed serious misconduct and concealed evidence that could help prove his innocence. The dramatic legal move marks the latest twist in a case that has rocked Hollywood since the Emmy winner was first arrested earlier this year.
Busfield, 69, currently faces four counts of criminal sexual contact involving children under the age of 13. Prosecutors allege the incidents involved twin boys who worked as child actors on the television series The Cleaning Lady between 2022 and 2024. A grand jury formally indicted the actor in February, and his trial is currently scheduled for May 2027.
In a newly filed motion, Busfield’s attorney, Stanton “Larry” Stein, claims prosecutors violated his client’s constitutional rights by failing to present exculpatory evidence to the grand jury and misrepresenting legal standards during the proceedings. The defense argues that the indictment should therefore be dismissed entirely.
The allegations against Busfield stem from claims made by two brothers who said the actor inappropriately touched them while serving as a director and producer on The Cleaning Lady. According to court documents, one of the boys alleged Busfield touched his private areas multiple times when he was 7 and again when he was 8 years old. Busfield has repeatedly denied all accusations, insisting he “did not do anything to those little boys” and vowing to fight the charges at every stage.
The defense has also pointed to police interview recordings in which the two boys reportedly denied Busfield touched them inappropriately. Busfield’s lawyers say the audio undermines the prosecution’s case, while prosecutors argue the recordings do not erase later disclosures alleging abuse.
Adding another layer to the controversy, prosecutors have referenced other historical allegations against Busfield spanning decades, though his legal team argues many of those claims were unsubstantiated or disproven. Busfield’s wife, actress Melissa Gilbert, has publicly stood by her husband throughout the ordeal, calling this period an extraordinarily difficult chapter for their family.
For now, the case remains far from over. The court must first decide whether Busfield’s claims of prosecutorial misconduct warrant dismissing the indictment. If not, one of Hollywood’s most shocking criminal cases of recent years will continue its march toward trial, where both sides are expected to wage an intense battle over evidence, credibility, and what really happened behind the scenes of a popular television show.
