Recorded 18 October 2026 at 03:42 UTC

Archived

Judge dismisses child sex abuse charges against Timothy Busfield

A New Mexico state judge has dismissed an indictment against actor and director Timothy Busfield on charges of criminal sexual contact with a child. The judge ruled that prosecutors failed to act in a fair and impartial manner and that misconduct and errors undermined the grand jury process. Busfield had been accused of groping a young boy on a television set.

Coverage from 4 publishers 4 source reports

CBSABC NewsGuardianBBC

Judge throws out child sex abuse charges against actor Timothy Busfield

Update summary

What changed in this update

4 publishers and 4 source reports documented this archived update.

Source coverage

Source reports

CBS Published 16 October 2026

Judge dismisses child sex abuse charges against actor Timothy Busfield

Guardian Published 17 October 2026

Child sex abuse charges against actor Timothy Busfield dismissed by judge

Prosecution did not act in fair and impartial way in grand jury proceedings, judge rules, after West Wing actor charged with groping young boy on TV set A state court ⁠judge in New Mexico has dismissed charges of child sexual abuse against West Wing actor and director Timothy Busfield, saying the prosecution did not act in a ⁠fair and impartial manner during grand jury proceedings. Judge Joseph Montano said prosecut…

BBC Published 17 October 2026

Judge throws out child sex abuse charges against actor Timothy Busfield

The judge in the case said on Friday that the prosecutor "failed to act in a fair and impartial manner".

ABC News Published 16 October 2026

Judge tosses indictment against actor Timothy Busfield

A New Mexico judge has dismissed an indictment against actor and director Timothy Busfield on four counts of sexual contact of a minor.

More news

Also in the news

Newsom Commutes the Sentences of California’s 548 Death Row Inmates

US 4h ago Updating

California governor commutes sentences of more than 500 people on death row

Gavin Newsom cites state values and flaws in the legal system as he grants largest mass clemency in US history.

9 references

NYTGuardianPBSDWFrance 24 +3

Head of Justice Department office on Civil Rights resigns

US 6h ago Updating

News Wrap: Head of Justice Department's civil rights division resigns

In our news wrap Thursday, Harmeet Dhillon is stepping down as head of the Justice Department's civil rights division, Melania Trump hosted Russian and Ukrainian officials to mark a localized ceasefire and European authorities are investigating a series of bomb threats that targeted more than a dozen flights.

7 references

CBSGuardianABC NewsNPRNYT +2

US 1d ago Established

US midterm elections 2026 live: Democrats eye historic upset in Mississippi Senate race as Republican blame game begins

Democrat Scott Colom is leading Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith in the southern state; JD Vance pointed to the war in Iran as the ‘obvious’ culprit for Republicans’ loss Live results | How do you feel about the results? Sign up for Breaking News US email Analysis: Is this the beginning of the end for Trump? Continued from the last post: Across the US, editors worked into the night on Tuesday to get out late ed…

5 references

CBSNPRABC NewsTIMEGuardian

Discovery

See what’s emerging. See what’s changing.

Explore stories gaining momentum and continuing events with new developments.

Explore Discovery