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Judge Tosses Case: Prosecutors Erred in Jury Proceedings
16 Oct
Summary
- Judge found prosecutors failed to act impartially during grand jury proceedings.
- Prosecutors impeded defense witnesses from testifying before the grand jury.
- Busfield maintains innocence after charges were dismissed on Friday.
An indictment against actor Timothy Busfield was dismissed on Friday by a New Mexico judge. Judge Joseph Montano found that prosecutors acted unfairly during the grand jury proceedings. The judge stated prosecutors impeded the grand jury's ability to hear from defense witnesses, despite several being available.
Busfield was indicted in February on charges of groping a child actor on the set of the Fox show 'The Cleaning Lady,' where he worked as a director. He has maintained his innocence throughout the process. The judge's ruling highlighted that prosecutors did not properly instruct the grand jury and withheld requested witnesses.
Prosecutors have the option to seek a new indictment against Busfield. A spokesperson for the district attorney's office stated they are evaluating their options. Busfield is known for his roles in 'The West Wing' and 'Thirtysomething.'
