Overview
- A New Mexico judge granted Timothy Busfield’s motion to quash the grand-jury indictment on Friday, finding prosecutors failed to act in a fair and impartial manner during the grand-jury proceedings.
- The judge found prosecutors misrepresented the rules for calling witnesses and used an unsupported procedure that effectively kept jurors from hearing at least eight potential defense witnesses who were available in the courthouse hallway.
- The dismissed indictment charged Busfield with four counts of criminal sexual contact with a minor tied to allegations involving two child actors on the set of The Cleaning Lady.
- The order is procedural and not an acquittal, and the Bernalillo County/Second Judicial District Attorney’s office has said it is reviewing the ruling and may present the matter to a new grand jury.
- Busfield has denied the allegations, his lawyers pointed to a Warner Bros. internal inquiry that did not substantiate the claim and a polygraph he reportedly passed, and the case highlights scrutiny of on-set child-safety procedures and how studio reviews interact with criminal process.