Television actor Timothy Busfield, renowned for his role in The West Wing, has been formally indicted on four serious counts of criminal sexual contact involving a minor. The indictment was delivered by a grand jury in New Mexico, marking a significant escalation in the legal proceedings against the 68-year-old performer.
Legal Team's Sarcastic Response to Indictment
Busfield's primary legal representative, attorney Larry Stein, has launched a scathing critique of the grand jury's decision to proceed with charges. In a statement dripping with sarcasm, Stein referenced a common legal adage about grand juries' willingness to indict.
"As the saying goes, a grand jury will indict a ham sandwich," Stein bluntly declared to media outlets, questioning the validity of the prosecution's case from its very foundation.
Defence Challenges Prosecution's Evidence
Speaking exclusively to Deadline, Stein elaborated on his concerns about the district attorney's decision to move forward with what he characterizes as a fundamentally flawed case. "What is deeply concerning is that the District Attorney is choosing to proceed on a case that is fundamentally unsound and cannot be proven at trial," the attorney asserted.
Stein pointed to what he described as "fatal weaknesses" in the prosecution's evidence that emerged during detention hearings. "The detention hearing exposed fatal weaknesses in the State's evidence — gaps that no amount of charging decisions can cure," he continued, suggesting the case lacks substantive legal foundation.
Details of the Formal Indictment
The Bernalillo County District Attorney's Office publicly announced the indictment on Friday through official channels. The formal document charges Busfield with four identical counts:
- Count 1: Criminal Sexual Contact of a Child
- Count 2: Criminal Sexual Contact of a Child
- Count 3: Criminal Sexual Contact of a Child
- Count 4: Criminal Sexual Contact of a Child
The district attorney's statement emphasized that Busfield maintains the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty through proper judicial proceedings. The case will be handled by the Special Victims Unit of the Bernalillo County District Attorney's Office, with District Attorney Sam Bregman highlighting child protection as a top priority for his office.
Background of the Allegations and Legal Proceedings
The allegations against Busfield reportedly involve incidents occurring between November 2022 and spring 2024, allegedly involving two minor boys on a New Mexico film set where Busfield was working. The actor had previously been charged with two counts of criminal sexual contact with a minor plus child abuse on January 9th of this year.
Busfield, who won an Emmy Award in 1991 for his supporting role in Thirtysomething, voluntarily surrendered to authorities earlier this month to face the initial charges. Following a detention hearing, a judge permitted his release under specific conditions, including no unsupervised contact with children during the legal process.
Path Toward Trial and Defence Strategy
The grand jury indictment represents a crucial procedural step, requiring approval from two-thirds of the twelve jurors. While this moves the case closer to potential trial, no specific court date has been established at this time.
Stein made clear his client's determination to contest the charges vigorously. "Mr. Busfield will fight these charges at every stage and looks forward to testing the State's case in open court — where evidence matters — not behind closed doors," the attorney declared, suggesting the defence believes the prosecution's case cannot withstand public scrutiny in a trial setting.
The defence maintains that Busfield continues to deny all allegations against him, setting the stage for what promises to be a closely watched legal battle in the coming months.
