Judge Orders Timothy Busfield Released Pending Trial in New Mexico Child Sex Abuse Case
Judge David Murphy ordered actor Timothy Busfield released on own recognizance, supervised pending trial on child sex abuse charges linked to The Cleaning Lady set.
Overview
Actor Timothy Busfield faces charges of criminal sexual contact of a minor and child abuse over allegations involving twin child actors on The Cleaning Lady set.
Judge David Murphy ordered release on own recognizance, supervised by Albuquerque pretrial services, permitting Busfield to live at home and travel out of state with conditions.
Conditions bar firearms, drugs, unsupervised contact with minors in the case, contact with alleged victims or their families, discussing the case with witnesses, and require attendance at court dates.
Prosecutors say the boys’ accounts are specific and supported by medical findings and therapy records, citing alleged decades-long pattern of misconduct and witnesses fearing retaliation.
Defense highlights denials, audio interviews, Warner Bros. probe finding uncorroborated, letters, polygraph and psychosexual evaluation; Busfield has been dropped by agency and some projects pulled.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame coverage sympathetically toward Busfield by foregrounding the judge’s release, detailed defense allegations (calling parents "con artists" and "manufactured" claims), and emotive courtroom scenes. Editorial choices - loaded descriptors, quote selection privileging defense, and omission of victims’ voices or prosecutor evidence - collectively tilt the narrative toward doubt about the accusations.
Sources (5)
FAQ
Busfield faces charges of criminal sexual contact of a minor and child abuse stemming from allegations of inappropriately touching twin child actors on the set of 'The Cleaning Lady.'
He was released on his own recognizance under supervision by Albuquerque pretrial services, allowed to live at home and travel out of state, but barred from possessing firearms or drugs, having unsupervised contact with minors in the case, contacting alleged victims or their families, discussing the case with witnesses, and must attend all court dates.
Prosecutors cite the boys' specific accounts supported by medical findings and therapy records, noting they changed statements after therapy from initial denials in 2024, plus an alleged decades-long pattern of misconduct and witnesses fearing retaliation.
The defense denies the claims, highlighting initial 2024 statements by the twins to police that no inappropriate touching occurred, audio interviews, a Warner Bros. probe finding allegations uncorroborated, letters of support, a passed polygraph, and psychosexual evaluation; Busfield passed an independent polygraph.
Yes, prosecutors mentioned a separate report from a 16-year-old who alleged Busfield kissed her and touched her privates during an audition several years ago.
History
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