New Mexico Court Dismisses Indictment Against Actor Timothy Busfield

A New Mexico court dismissed the indictment against actor and director Timothy Busfield on Friday, ruling that prosecutors acted unfairly before the grand jury. Judge Joseph Montano granted the defense motion after finding that the prosecution obstructed the jurors from hearing additional witnesses who were ready to testify.

The case stems from allegations related to Busfield's work on the set of the television series The Cleaning Lady in Albuquerque. Two twin brothers accused him of inappropriate sexual contact when they were seven and eight years old, leading to an indictment in February. Busfield has consistently denied the allegations, with his defense arguing the claims stemmed from retaliation after the children were written out of the show.

The dismissal does not constitute an acquittal on the merits, and prosecutors stated they are evaluating their options regarding a potential new indictment. Busfield, 69, is well known for his roles in The West Wing and thirtysomething, and is married to actress Melissa Gilbert.