Timothy Busfield freed from jail as child sex abuse case moves forward

Timothy Busfield has been released from jail in New Mexico as he fights child sex abuse charges in court.

The "Field of Dreams" actor, 68, was released Tuesday, Jan. 20, according to Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center inmate records reviewed by USA TODAY on Jan. 21. He had been behind bars for a week.

The move came within hours of a Second Judicial District Court Judge David A. Murphy ruling during a Jan. 20 pretrial detention hearing that Busfield could be released on his own recognizance. Murphy denied state prosecutors' request to keep Busfield behind bars based on the argument that "no conditions of release will reasonably protect the safety or any other person or the community."

In a previous statement to USA TODAY after the ruling, Busfield's lawyer Larry Stein said his team is "delighted that the judge thoroughly reviewed the evidence and reached a just decision. And we are excited and happy, especially [wife] Melissa [Gilbert]."

A tearful Gilbert, who was seated behind her husband in the gallery, quietly celebrated the judge's decision.

Busfield is charged with two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse. Between late 2022 and early 2024, Busfield allegedly abused two actors, who were 7 and 8 years old at the time, as they worked on the Busfield-directed Fox series "The Cleaning Lady," according to prosecutors.

Did Timothy Busfield get bail? What happened at court hearing

Both state prosecutors and Busfield's defense were allotted an hour each to present their arguments for and against his continued detention, respectively.

As he presented his arguments to the judge, defense attorney Chris Dodd said Busfield "is ready to fight this case, and he is going to fight this case."

While arguing against the state's case for Busfield's continued detention, his defense cast doubt on the credibility of the alleged victims' claims. "These are manufactured allegations," defense attorney Amber Fayerberg told the judge.

Murphy noted in court that prosecutors presented a satisfying case that Busfield "does pose a danger to the safety of others."

The judge noted Busfield has "zero criminal history" and "there are no similar allegations involving children of this past." Any prior sexual assault allegations against him, which were mentioned in his criminal complaint, haven't "been vetted by the judiciary system."

As such, Murphy said, "I cannot find that the state has proven by clearly convincing evidence that there are no release conditions that would reasonably protect the safety of any other person in the community."

The conditions of Busfield's release are that he must appear in all future court hearings and report to pretrial services in Albuquerque.

He cannot "violate any laws"; have firearms or "dangerous weapons"; possess or consume alcohol or illegal drugs; or have contact with alleged victims, their families, or "any minor children in this case."