Actor Timothy Busfield has been released from a jail in New Mexico, where he faces charges of child sexual abuse. Attorneys for the actor known for appearances in “The West Wing” and “Field of Dreams” successfully argued during a detention hearing Tuesday that he's not a danger to the community. Prosecutors sought to keep him behind bars, emphasizing the gravity of the charges and what they say is a pattern of sexual misconduct, grooming behavior and abuse of power by Busfield over decades. Busfield is accused of inappropriately touching a minor while working as a director on the set of the TV series “The Cleaning Lady.” Busfield denies the allegations.
Emmy Award-winning actor Timothy Busfield’s attorneys told a court he should be released while he awaits the outcome of child sex abuse charges against him. Busfield's attorneys said in court filings Friday an independent investigation undermined the state’s allegations and the parents of his accusers have a history of fraud and dishonesty. His attorneys also say he passed a polygraph test. Busfield was ordered held without bond at his first court appearance earlier this week after he turned himself in to face charges stemming from allegations that he inappropriately touched a minor on the set of a TV series he was directing in New Mexico.