Judge Joseph Montano Dismisses Timothy Busfield Indictment in Albuquerque
State District Judge Joseph Montano dismissed a grand jury indictment against actor Timothy Busfield on Friday, citing prosecutorial misconduct and procedural errors during the legal proceedings in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Busfield faced charges of criminal sexual contact with a child stemming from his time directing the television series “The Cleaning Lady” between 2022 and 2024.
Allegations From The Set Of The Cleaning Lady
The criminal case originated from complaints filed by the parents of two twin boys who were let go from the production. According to an Albuquerque Police Department complaint filed in January, one boy alleged that Busfield touched him on his private areas over his clothing on two separate occasions when he was 7 and 8 years old. The boy’s twin brother reported similar contact but could not specify locations and stated he remained silent to avoid trouble. Busfield turned himself in earlier this year and was released pending trial after a judge found no pattern of criminal conduct or prior allegations involving children.
Grand Jury Indictment And Defense Claims Of Misconduct
A grand jury indicted Busfield weeks after his initial arrest on multiple counts of touching or applying force to intimate parts. In June, defense attorneys filed a motion to toss the indictment, arguing that Bernalillo County prosecutors ignored a lack of evidence and blocked grand jurors from hearing key witness testimony. During a September hearing, defense attorney Amanda Fayerberg played audio recordings of grand jurors asking to hear from additional witnesses. Fayerberg stated that prosecutors wrongly told jurors that subpoenas were necessary even though those witnesses were present and willing to testify.
Judge tosses charges against Timothy Busfield, finding prosecutors withheld evidence from grand jury https://t.co/tW0DhvibUf
Prosecution Response And Busfield Testimony
Bernalillo County District Attorney Greer Staley defended the prosecution’s actions, arguing that the defense failed to follow proper procedures for submitting evidence to the grand jury. Staley also maintained that Busfield improperly tried to steer grand jurors toward favorable exhibits during his three-hour testimony. Transcripts show Busfield told jurors that the allegations turned his life upside down, resulted in his firing by his agency, and left him professionally canceled. When asked about the accusations during his testimony, Busfield stated, I’m saying that is absolutely one gazillion percent untrue. Never ever.
Next Legal Steps In Albuquerque
Prosecutors did not immediately indicate whether they would seek a new grand jury indictment against the actor. Each count in the dismissed indictment carried a potential six-year prison sentence that could be enhanced under state guidelines.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Timothy Busfield Case
What specific TV show was Timothy Busfield directing when the allegations arose?
Busfield was directing the television series “The Cleaning Lady” in Albuquerque between 2022 and 2024 when the parents of two child actors made their claims.
What were the exact reasons Judge Joseph Montano cited for dismissing the charges?
Judge Joseph Montano dismissed the indictment due to prosecutorial misconduct and procedural errors that undermined the grand jury process, including blocking jurors from hearing available witnesses.
What did Timothy Busfield say in response to the allegations during grand jury proceedings?
Testifying before the grand jury, Busfield stated that the accusations ruined his career, got him dropped by his agency, and declared that the claims were absolutely one gazillion percent untrue.
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