{"id":424368,"date":"2026-01-21T20:52:13","date_gmt":"2026-01-21T20:52:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/424368\/"},"modified":"2026-01-21T20:52:13","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T20:52:13","slug":"timothy-busfield-released-from-jail-pending-trial-in-child-sex-abuse-case-national","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/424368\/","title":{"rendered":"Timothy Busfield released from jail pending trial in child sex abuse case – National"},"content":{"rendered":"

The West Wing\u00a0actor\u00a0Timothy Busfield<\/a> was released from jail Tuesday night in New Mexico while he awaits trial on child sexual abuse charges, a court has ruled.<\/p>\n

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Bernalillo County District Court Judge David A. Murphy rejected New Mexico prosecutors\u2019 bid<\/a> to keep Busfield, 68, detained. They outlined what they said was grooming behaviour and abuse of power by the Thirtysomething actor\u00a0over three decades.<\/p>\n

Busfield\u2019s charges stem from allegations he inappropriately<\/a> touched a minor on the set of the TV series,\u00a0The Cleaning Lady, that he was directing in New Mexico. He faces two counts of criminal sexual contact of a child under 13 and one count of child abuse.<\/p>\n

Busfield\u2019s lawyers argued that the actor wasn\u2019t a danger to the community and shouldn\u2019t be behind bars while he awaits trial.<\/p>\n

Murphy said while the crimes Busfield is accused of are inherently dangerous and involve children, prosecutors didn\u2019t prove he posed a risk to public safety if released.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThere\u2019s no evidence of a pattern of criminal conduct, there are no similar allegations involving children in his past,\u201d Murphy said. \u201cRather, this defendant self-surrendered and submitted himself to this court\u2019s jurisdiction, demonstrating compliance with the court order for his arrest.\u201d<\/p>\n

The judge also said that the risk of Busfield committing more crimes \u201ccan be remedied through different conditions of release.\u201d<\/p>\n

Under the order, Busfield may not contact the alleged victims or their families, discuss the case with witnesses, or have any unsupervised contact with minors. He has also been ordered to appear for all his future court dates and is not allowed to possess any firearms or dangerous weapons or consume any alcohol or illegal drugs.<\/p>\n

The ruling came a week after Busfield surrendered to the Albuquerque Police Department (APD)<\/a> after an arrest warrant had been issued for the director to face child sex abuse charges.<\/p>\n

Busfield appeared at the hearing wearing an orange jumpsuit and shackles.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tDirector and actor Timothy Busfield arrives for a hearing at the Bernalillo County Courthouse on Jan. 20, 2026, in Albuquerque, N.M.\t\t\t\t <\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tSam Wasson\/Pool Photo via AP\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

According to the criminal complaint, an investigator with the APD said a boy reported that Busfield touched him on his private areas over his clothing on one occasion when he was seven years old and a second time when he was eight. The boy\u2019s twin brother told authorities he was also touched by Busfield, but he did not specify where and said he didn\u2019t tell anyone because he feared he would get in trouble, the complaint said.<\/p>\n

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During the hearing on Tuesday, Busfield\u2019s lawyers pointed out that the children initially said during interviews with police that Busfield didn\u2019t touch them inappropriately. Busfield\u2019s lawyers then accused the boys\u2019 parents of coaching their children toward incriminating statements after the siblings lost lucrative roles on the show.<\/p>\n

Busfield\u2019s defence team called one witness \u2014 Alan Caudillo, director of photography on\u00a0The Cleaning Lady \u2014 to testify that children on set were never left alone with anyone and that the parents were the ones who encouraged hugs with adults on the set.<\/p>\n

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According to the criminal complaint, one of the boys later disclosed during a therapy session that he had been inappropriately touched by Busfield. Those records were obtained by police during the investigation.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Click<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t2:47
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWest Wing actor Timothy Busfield charged with sexual contact of a minor, child abuse\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Assistant District Attorney Savannah Brandenburg-Koch called the evidence of abuse against Busfield strong and specific. She also said witnesses expressed fear about potential retaliation and professional harm.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe boys\u2019 allegations are supported by medical findings and by their therapist,\u201d Brandenburg-Koch said. \u201cTheir accounts were specific and not exaggerated.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was during therapy, not the parents, that S.L. described sexual abuse by the defendant and V.L. disclosed inappropriate touching,\u201d she added, referring to the alleged victims by their initials that appear in the criminal complaint. \u201cS.L. even disclosed in therapy that he was mad at his dad because he thought he knew it was going on since he had the iPad to watch his children.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tDirector and actor Timothy Busfield looks on before a hearing at the Bernalillo County Courthouse on Jan. 20, 2026, in Albuquerque, N.M.\t\t\t\t <\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tSam Wasson\/Pool Photo via AP\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Defence lawyer Amber Fayerberg said her client will be under intense scrutiny because of the publicity surrounding the charges.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat bell can\u2019t be un-rung,\u201d Fayerberg said. \u201cThe idea that he (Busfield) could then go out and be dangerous with a child, in the world where everybody knows who he is, is absurd.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u201cHis career is over \u2014 in the span of six days, it\u2019s done,\u201d she added. \u201cEdited out of projects, talent agency dropped him, allegations plastered all over global media of pedophilia.\u201d<\/p>\n

She also called the alleged victim\u2019s father, Ronald Rodis, a \u201ccon artist\u201d looking for a payout.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis entire criminal complaint is making good on that promise,\u201d Fayerberg said. \u201cThey got a civil attorney first in California, who then interacted with WB (Warner Bros.). They didn\u2019t contact the police until WB said there\u2019s nothing behind these allegations. Translation: We\u2019re not giving you any money. Then they went to the police.\u201d<\/p>\n

Melissa Gilbert<\/a>, Busfield\u2019s wife and Little House on the Prairie alum, attended Tuesday\u2019s detention hearing and sat behind her husband.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tActor Melissa Gilbert, wife of director and actor Timothy Busfield, attends her husband\u2019s hearing at the Bernalillo County Courthouse on Jan. 20, 2026, in Albuquerque, N.M.\t\t\t\t <\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tSam Wasson\/Pool Photo via AP\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

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Gilbert was seen crying and whispering, \u201cThank you, God,\u201d after the judge ruled that Busfield would be released with conditions as he awaits trial following the two-hour pretrial detention hearing.<\/p>\n

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\t\t\t\t\tMelissa Gilbert reacts as her husband Timothy Busfield is granted a conditional release at a hearing at the Bernalillo County Courthouse on Jan. 20, 2026, in Albuquerque, N.M.\t\t\t\t <\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tAJ Skuy for Fox News Digital Pool Photo via AP\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Outside the courthouse, Gilbert thanked the judge for the ruling.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe appreciate the judge thoroughly evaluating the evidence and reaching the just decision. And we are very excited and happy, especially Melissa,\u201d Larry Stein, a lawyer for Busfield, said in a statement to Los Angeles Magazine<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tActor Timothy Busfield\u2019s wife, Melissa Gilbert, left, and lawyer Larry Stein, centre, along with lawyer Chris Dodd, stand in front of the Bernalillo County Courthouse in Albuquerque, N.M.\t\t\t\t <\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tAP Photo\/Roberto E. Rosales\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Gilbert had submitted a letter of support<\/a> prior to her husband\u2019s hearing, alleging that he \u201chas the strongest moral compass of any human I have ever known.\u201d<\/p>\n

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In the filing,\u00a075 letters of support for the actor were included from family, colleagues and friends.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t3:17
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTimothy Busfield faces another sexual abuse claim as wife stands by his side\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

In Gilbert\u2019s letter, she wrote, \u201cThe reality is that Tim Busfield is my love, my rock, my partner in business and life. He is my comfort and my council. His joy, humor and quick wit bring sparkle to my life. Tim is, quite simply, the beating heart of our wild and wonderful extended family.\u201d<\/p>\n

In a video shared before\u00a0turning himself in<\/a>, Busfield called the allegations against him \u201clies.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re all lies and I did not do anything to those little boys and I\u2019m gonna fight it. I\u2019m gonna fight it with a great team, and I\u2019m gonna be exonerated, I know I am, because this is all so wrong and all lies,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

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#EXCLUSIVE<\/a> \ud83d\udea8 Timothy Busfield surrenders to cops on child sex abuse charges.<\/p>\n

Details: https:\/\/t.co\/44s9A9XYPX<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/8fNldzwSe1<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 TMZ (@TMZ) January 13, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Busfield\u2019s next court appearance is Jan. 29.<\/p>\n

\u2014 With files from The Associated Press<\/p>\n

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