Judge tosses child abuse indictment against Timothy Busfield

A New Mexico judge has thrown out the indictment against actor Timothy Busfield, ruling on Friday that prosecutors did not act fairly or impartially during the grand jury proceedings.

Busfield was indicted in February on charges of groping a 7-year-old boy on the set of The Cleaning Lady, where he worked as a director. He denies the allegations. Judge Joseph Montano found that prosecutors kept grand jurors from hearing from defense witnesses who were waiting in a hallway, a move that violated grand jury laws.

Prosecutors can seek a new indictment but have not yet decided whether to do so. Busfield’s attorney said he is relieved and ready if the case moves forward again.