Timothy Busfield Released From Jail Amid Child Sexual Abuse Charges

Photo: New Mexico Superior Court/ZUMA Press Wire

After his pretrial detention hearing in New Mexico on January 20, Timothy Busfield will be eligible to be released from jail as he awaits his trial, reports Fox 40. Busfield has been accused of child sexual abuse by two minors with whom he worked on the set of The Cleaning Lady. Judge David A. Murphy ruled that the director is not a public safety risk, and he will be released after one week in jail. “Based on the limited information I have in front of me, I’ll characterize the weight of the evidence against the defendant as neutral at this point in time,” Murphy stated. This was his first in-person court appearance; he wore an orange prison uniform as the prosecutors and defense gave their arguments for or against his detention.

As part of the conditions of his release, he must appear in person at all court hearings and pretrial services. USA Today reports he cannot consume alcohol, violate any laws, own firearms, or have contact with minor children. He was charged with two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse on January 9.