Actor Timothy Busfield’s lawyers say investigation weakens state child sex abuse charges
Emmy Award–winning actor Timothy Busfield should be released from custody while his case proceeds because the evidence against him is deeply flawed and undermined by an independent investigation, his attorneys argued in court filings Friday. Defense lawyers said the state’s child sex abuse allegations rest on claims from accusers whose parents have documented histories of fraud and dishonesty, and they emphasized that Busfield passed a polygraph examination that they say is consistent with other evidence supporting his innocence. Busfield was ordered held without bond at his initial court appearance on Wednesday, one day after he voluntarily turned himself in to face the charges. A detention hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, when a judge will decide whether he will remain jailed as the case moves forward.
Busfield is charged with two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse, based on allegations that he inappropriately touched a child on the set of a television series he was directing in Albuquerque, New Mexico. According to the criminal complaint, one child reported being touched over his clothing on two occasions when he was 7 and 8 years old, while the child’s twin brother told investigators he was also touched but did not specify where, saying he stayed silent out of fear of getting in trouble. Busfield has publicly denied the accusations, calling them lies in a video released before he surrendered to authorities. His attorneys contend the allegations surfaced only after the children were removed from the show, arguing this created a retaliatory and financial motive. They also said an internal investigation by the production company concluded the claims were unfounded, supported by independent witnesses, but that those findings were not included in the state’s complaint. In addition to the polygraph results, Busfield submitted multiple character letters in his defense. While polygraph evidence is permitted in New Mexico under limited circumstances, its admissibility is subject to strict standards and ultimately left to a judge’s discretion.
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