Actor Timothy Busfield Released from Jail as He Waits for Trial in Child Sex Abuse Case in New Mexico
In a surprising turn of events, actor Timothy Busfield has been ordered released from jail pending trial on child sex abuse charges. The decision was made by state district court Judge David Murphy during a detention hearing on Tuesday.
Busfield, known for his appearances in popular TV shows such as "The West Wing," "Field of Dreams," and "Thirtysomething," is accused of inappropriately touching a minor while working as the director of the series "The Cleaning Lady." The allegations against Busfield were first brought to light after an investigator with the police department reported that a child had told him about being touched by the actor on two separate occasions when he was just 7 and 8 years old.
According to prosecutors, evidence of abuse against Busfield is strong and specific, including medical findings and accounts from his alleged victims' therapist. However, Busfield's attorneys argue that the allegations emerged only after the boys lost their role in the TV show, suggesting a financial and retaliatory motive.
Busfield was initially held without bond at his first court appearance but has now been released on his own recognizance, pending trial. Under the conditions of his release, he will be supervised by a pretrial service in Albuquerque and can leave the state to live with his wife, actress Melissa Gilbert, who watched tearfully from the courtroom gallery.
Busfield's attorneys have also submitted letters vouching for their client's character and an independent polygraph test, which they claim shows that Busfield has no intention of harming anyone. However, legal experts say that New Mexico is among a few states that allow polygraph evidence in criminal cases, but there are strict requirements for its admission.
The case against Busfield highlights the complexities of child sex abuse allegations and the challenges faced by victims in coming forward. As his trial approaches, it remains to be seen whether Busfield will ultimately be found guilty or acquitted of the charges against him.
In a surprising turn of events, actor Timothy Busfield has been ordered released from jail pending trial on child sex abuse charges. The decision was made by state district court Judge David Murphy during a detention hearing on Tuesday.
Busfield, known for his appearances in popular TV shows such as "The West Wing," "Field of Dreams," and "Thirtysomething," is accused of inappropriately touching a minor while working as the director of the series "The Cleaning Lady." The allegations against Busfield were first brought to light after an investigator with the police department reported that a child had told him about being touched by the actor on two separate occasions when he was just 7 and 8 years old.
According to prosecutors, evidence of abuse against Busfield is strong and specific, including medical findings and accounts from his alleged victims' therapist. However, Busfield's attorneys argue that the allegations emerged only after the boys lost their role in the TV show, suggesting a financial and retaliatory motive.
Busfield was initially held without bond at his first court appearance but has now been released on his own recognizance, pending trial. Under the conditions of his release, he will be supervised by a pretrial service in Albuquerque and can leave the state to live with his wife, actress Melissa Gilbert, who watched tearfully from the courtroom gallery.
Busfield's attorneys have also submitted letters vouching for their client's character and an independent polygraph test, which they claim shows that Busfield has no intention of harming anyone. However, legal experts say that New Mexico is among a few states that allow polygraph evidence in criminal cases, but there are strict requirements for its admission.
The case against Busfield highlights the complexities of child sex abuse allegations and the challenges faced by victims in coming forward. As his trial approaches, it remains to be seen whether Busfield will ultimately be found guilty or acquitted of the charges against him.
this is a really tough situation for everyone involved... timothy busfield has a good reputation as an actor, and it's hard to believe he'd do something like that to two young kids... but at the same time, we can't ignore the evidence against him either... 
i think it's great that his wife is there to support him, but also worried sick, right? 
it's good that he was released on his own recognizance, though - it shows that the court doesn't think he's a flight risk... 
but what's concerning is that polygraph results can be so... unreliable 
maybe they should've done more tests to verify the truth? 
... But at the same time, I kinda feel bad for him and his wife Melissa Gilbert... She looks like she was really emotional watching from the gallery 
. And don't even get me started on the polygraph test thingy... If it's legit then Busfield is totally innocent... but if it's not, that raises more questions than answers 
. Can't really say for sure what happened here either way... Maybe the best thing would be for Busfield to just cooperate fully with the investigation and see where it takes him 
.
this is such a tough situation for everyone involved... the alleged victim/s victims are still reeling from these allegations and the fact that they're having to testify in court again is just heartbreaking 
and for Busfield, he's lost his freedom and reputation on top of it all... his team trying to downplay things by saying it was a financial motive or retaliation but honestly, who knows what really went down? 
it's like the whole world is watching this case unfold and it's just so hard not to feel for both sides 
. And what's really disturbing is that his lawyers are trying to pass off some polygraph test as evidence? Like, come on, isn't that just a bunch of hooey? 
Anyway, I'm keeping an eye on this one... it's gonna be a wild ride 
he gets accused of something super serious and now hes walking free 
it just feels like hes getting off easy 
and whats with all these high-profile cases lately? 
its making me wanna stay home and not watch tv anymore 
. Don't get me wrong, if he's guilty, he should still face justice, but let's not rush to judgment just yet, okay?
... but at the same time, he's being released on his own recognizance now, which suggests that maybe prosecutors aren't as confident in their case as they thought.
... hopefully justice will be served and whoever is responsible will face consequences 
.