Timothy Busfield Faces Court Hearing on Child Sex Abuse Charges
Timothy Busfield is set to have a court hearing next Tuesday to determine whether he should be held in jail pending a trial on child sex abuse charges. The 68-year-old actor remains at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Albuquerque after turning himself in on Tuesday.
District Attorney Sam Bregman stated at a press conference on Thursday that it is routine for his office to seek pre-trial detention in child sex abuse cases. Busfield is facing three charges, including two counts of criminal sexual contact with a child and one count of child abuse. The potential maximum sentences for these charges range from three to six years.
The allegations against Busfield involve a 7-year-old boy who was working on the set of “The Cleaning Lady” in 2022. The child reported that Busfield, who was directing episodes of the show, touched his private areas. Busfield, known for his roles in “Thirtysomething” and “The West Wing,” has maintained his innocence. His attorney, Stanton “Larry” Stein, mentioned that Busfield voluntarily took a polygraph test and passed.
During the press conference, Bregman refrained from discussing specific details of the case to preserve its integrity. He emphasized the importance of trying cases in the courtroom rather than in the media and encouraged anyone with relevant information to come forward to law enforcement.
Prosecutors argued in a motion that Busfield poses a risk to children if released. They cited a pattern of grooming and exploitation of professional authority to gain access to minors. The court’s pre-trial services division recommended releasing Busfield on his own recognizance, but prosecutors are pushing for his detention.
Judge David Murphy will preside over the hearing on Tuesday afternoon to consider the state’s request. Following this hearing, Busfield will be formally charged and arraigned. Bregman estimated that the legal proceedings could take 12-18 months to conclude.
Bregman, who is also a candidate for the Democratic nomination for New Mexico governor, has a personal connection to the case as the father of baseball star Alex Bregman. The outcome of Busfield’s court hearing will be closely watched as the legal process unfolds.
