Judge Calls Evidence 'Neutral'; Timothy Busfield Released From Jail Pending Child Sex-Abuse Proceedings

Actor-director Timothy Busfield, best known for roles on The West Wing and in the film Field of Dreams, was ordered released from custody on Tuesday as he awaits further proceedings on allegations of child sexual abuse after a New Mexico judge described the evidence against him as "neutral."

Busfield, 68, surrendered to authorities last week after prosecutors in Albuquerque filed a criminal complaint charging him with child abuse and two counts of criminal sexual contact with a minor. Prosecutors allege he inappropriately touched two young twin cast members while directing episodes of the Fox drama The Cleaning Lady, which was filmed in New Mexico. Busfield has denied the allegations, calling them "lies."

Court Remarks and Next Steps

At a hearing on Tuesday, Judge David Murphy said:

"As it stands today, with the limited information I have in front of me, I'll characterize the weight of the evidence against the defendant as neutral at this point."

The judge ordered Busfield released pending further proceedings. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for January 29, at which prosecutors must establish probable cause to move the case toward trial.

Allegations, Statements and Evidence

According to the arrest-warrant affidavit filed with the complaint, the twin boys—now 11—said the alleged conduct occurred over a two-year period when they were about 7 and 8 years old. Busfield was an executive producer on the show and began directing episodes near the end of the series' second season in 2022.

Deputy District Attorney Savannah Brandenburg-Koch told the court that a hospital physician first notified law enforcement in November 2024 after the children told the doctor they had experienced behaviors that could be described as "grooming." Brandenburg-Koch said the boys later told a therapist that they had been sexually abused.

Defense attorney Christopher Dodd emphasized that, in a recorded interview played at the hearing, each child denied being "touched in private areas" by Busfield when questioned by a law enforcement officer. The judge noted it is "not uncommon" for alleged child victims to initially deny sexual abuse.

Dodd also accused the children’s parents of seeking revenge after the twins were removed from the series cast, calling them "scam artists" in court.

Called as a defense witness, Allan Cabillo, director of photography for The Cleaning Lady, testified he never observed inappropriate behavior by Busfield around the boys and said the children did not return for the show's final season because they had aged out of their roles.

In a video posted online shortly before he surrendered, Busfield said, "I did not do anything to those little boys." According to the affidavit, Busfield told police in a November interview that he likely had incidental physical contact with the children at times—such as tickling or picking them up—but described those interactions as playful, occurring with others present, and not sexual in nature.

Background

Busfield is widely recognized for his television work, including playing a White House reporter on NBC's political drama The West Wing (1999–2006) and an ad agency executive on ABC's 1980s ensemble series Thirtysomething. In the 1989 film Field of Dreams, he portrayed the brother-in-law of Kevin Costner's character.

(Reporting by Danielle Broadway in Los Angeles; additional reporting by Evan Garcia; editing by Steve Gorman and Howard Goller.)