A judge in the United States has dismissed child sexual abuse charges against Emmy-winning actor Timothy Busfield, citing failures by prosecutors that undermined the grand jury proceedings.

State District Judge Joseph Montano granted the actor’s request to dismiss the indictment on Friday, October 16, 2026, ruling that the prosecution had failed to act fairly and impartially.

Busfield, known for his roles in The West Wing and Field of Dreams, had been indicted in February on four counts of criminal sexual contact of a child. He has repeatedly denied the allegations.

The Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office said it had received the court’s order and was evaluating its options.

Judge Cites Problems With Grand Jury Proceedings

In his ruling, Montano said the prosecutor failed to properly instruct grand jurors on the legal process for calling witnesses and used a procedure that effectively prevented requested witnesses from testifying.

The judge said the handling of the proceedings violated laws intended to protect the integrity of the grand jury system.

Busfield’s defence team had sought to have the indictment dismissed, arguing that prosecutors mishandled the presentation of evidence and prevented jurors from hearing testimony from witnesses they had requested.

The ruling dismisses the existing indictment but does not prevent prosecutors from pursuing new criminal proceedings against the actor.

Allegations Stem From Television Series

The charges arose from allegations involving two young boys who worked as child actors on the Fox television series The Cleaning Lady, which Busfield directed and produced.

According to the indictment, the alleged incidents occurred between October 19, 2022, and September 10, 2023. Prosecutors accused Busfield of inappropriate contact with a minor who was under 13 at the time.

An arrest affidavit stated that the boys had told authorities they were touched inappropriately over a period of years. The allegations also included claims that Busfield had groomed the children while working on the production.

The claims have not been established in court, and Busfield has denied wrongdoing.

Actor Previously Released Pending Trial

Busfield surrendered to authorities in January 2026 after an arrest warrant was issued. He was initially taken into custody on allegations involving criminal sexual contact with a minor and child abuse.

A judge subsequently ordered his release pending trial.

During the legal proceedings, Busfield’s defence team submitted more than 70 character-reference letters and said he had undergone and passed a polygraph test relating to the allegations.

His lawyers also argued that the accusations were motivated by revenge after the boys were not retained for the show’s final season. That claim was part of the defence’s position and has not been established as fact.

Prosecutors Reviewing Next Steps

Following Friday’s ruling, a spokesperson for the Second Judicial District Attorney’s Office said the office was reviewing the decision to determine how to proceed.

The dismissal marks a significant development in the case, but the possibility of a new indictment remains open.

Busfield’s legal representative was contacted for comment, according to the BBC report.