The “West Wing” actor was charged on four counts of criminal sexual contact with a minor in February.

Timothy Busfield files to dismiss indictment in child sex abuse case

The "West Wing" actor was charged on four counts of criminal sexual contact with a minor in February.

By Marina Watts

Marina Watts

Marina Watts is a news writer for with seven years experience covering entertainment, pop culture and celebrity news. Her previous work appears in PEOPLE, Bustle and Newsweek.

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June 19, 2026 12:56 p.m. ET

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Timothy Busfield at the Bernalillo County Courthouse in Albuquerque in January. Credit:

Sam Wasson/Getty

- Timothy Busfield filed a motion to quash the grand jury indictment in his ongoing child sex abuse case.

- The actor was indicted on four counts of criminal sexual contact with a minor in February.

- A trial is scheduled for May 2027.

Timothy Busfield is seeking a dismissal of the indictment in his ongoing child sex abuse case.

According to court documents obtained and reviewed by **, the *West Wing *actor filed a motion to quash the grand jury indictment in Bernalillo County, New Mexico.

Busfield's attorney, Stanton “Larry” Stein, addressed the latest development in a statement shared with **. “Timothy Busfield is innocent,” Stein began.

“This motion describes egregious prosecutorial misconduct during grand jury proceedings, thereby preventing the jurors from hearing testimony, witnesses and evidence even after repeated requests by the grand jury itself."

Busfield at the Bernalillo County Courthouse in Albuquerque in January.

Sam Wasson/Getty

Stein continued, alleging that "The government repressed and suppressed exculpatory evidence, misstated the law and failed in the most basic due process afforded any person under either Constitutional or State laws designed to protect actual innocence from abuse of government power.”

Busfield's request comes months after the actor was indicted by a grand jury on four counts of criminal sexual contact with a minor (a child under the age of 13) in February. Two of the charge dates were listed as Oct. 19, 2022, while the other two date back to Sept. 11, 2023. He pleaded not guilty.

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“What is deeply concerning is that the District Attorney is choosing to proceed on a case that is fundamentally unsound and cannot be proven at trial,” Busfield's lawyer said at the time.

“The detention hearing exposed fatal weaknesses in the State’s evidence — gaps that no amount of charging decisions can cure. This prosecution appears driven by something other than the facts or the law.”

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Weeks prior to the indictment, a warrant was issued for Busfield's arrest on Jan 10. He surrendered to authorities days later, on Jan. 13.

"I'm going to confront these lies," Busfield said at the time of his arrest. "They're horrible. They're all lies. And I did not do anything to those little boys, and I'm going to fight it. I'm going to fight it with a great team, and I'm going to be exonerated." He was released from custody one week later, and will not be jailed leading up to the trial.

Busfield at the Bernalillo County Courthouse in Albuquerque.

Bernalillo County District Court

Busfield was accused of allegedly inappropriately touching 11-year-old twin boys when they were actors on Fox's *The Cleaning Lady*, shot in Albuquerque. Busfield served as an executive producer and director on the now-canceled show.

An investigation into the allegations involving Busfield began in November 2024 after a doctor at the University of New Mexico Hospital (UNMH) alerted authorities about alleged sexual abuse.

Busfield is scheduled to appear in court on June 30 for a status hearing. His trial is set to begin in May 2027.

If found guilty, Busfield could be sentenced to at least three years in state prison.

*If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to **www.childhelp.org**. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.*

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