A New Mexico judge ruled "West Wing" actor Timothy Busfield is not a danger to the community and can fight his charges without being held behind bars.
This story contains graphic descriptions that some readers may find disturbing.
Since he was taken into custody on child sex abuse charges, actor Timothy Busfield has garnered a solid support base of family friends and Hollywood colleagues.
More than 70 people wrote letters to a New Mexico judge attesting to the 68-year-old's character, according to a Jan. 16 court filing from Busfield's legal team reviewed by USA TODAY.
The character witnesses ranged from Busfield's kindergarten friends to neighbors, former costars and family members. His wife, the actor Melissa Gilbert, her children and mother Barbara Gilbert Cowan were among the relatives who submitted letters alongside Busfield's siblings and his son, Samuel Busfield.
"The West Wing" alum's costars on ABC's Emmy-winning series "Thirtysomething," including Polly Draper, Peter Horton, Mel Harris, Ken Olin, Patricia Wettig Olin and Melanie Mayron each wrote positive messages of support, as did showrunners Marshall Herskovitz and Edward Zwick.
Busfield is charged with two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse. He is accused of "inappropriate physical contact" with two child actors, who were 7 and 8 years old at the time, as they worked on the Busfield-directed Fox series "The Cleaning Lady" between late 2022 and early 2024, according to prosecutors.
One of the boys, who has allegedly been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety, disclosed during a safe house interview that Busfield had touched the child's genitals over clothing several times while they were on set. His twin brother "independently disclosed unwanted touching" by Busfield and "corroborated the pattern of inappropriate physical contact," per prosecutors.
Busfield has denied all claims, alleging the accusations are an act of retaliation after the boys were recast on the show.
"I know Tim up close and personal, and over time. Tim is not only a great actor and a really good director, more than all of that, Tim is a good man. Through and through," Horton wrote, in part, in his letter to the judge, noting he's known his former costar for 38 years.
As an onscreen couple in "Thirtysomething," Wettig Olin wrote, "We had two children, ages three and six. Watching Tim on the set with those kids was extraordinary. He was delightful."
“They loved him and they trusted him completely. We had intimate scenes with them where we held them in bed with us and we played with them on the floor. I admired how easily Tim could give up his personal ego and any needs of his own, so he could be present to give them his complete focus and generous heart,” she continued.
“He is a wonderful man and I trust him completely.”
Busfield's defense attorneys gathered the dozens of letters in the span of about a week. He'd surrendered to authorities on Jan. 13, following an arrest warrant that was issued Jan. 9. In the hours after a judge denied the state's request to keep him behind bars until his trial, Busfield was released from jail on Jan. 20.
Gilbert, the actor's wife of more than a decade, wrote in her letter to the judge that Busfield is "my love, my rock, my partner in business and life. He is my comfort and my council. His joy, humor and quick wit bring sparkle to my life. Tim is, quite simply, the beating heart of our wild and wonderful extended family."
Her mother, Gilbert Cowan, said "the world is a better place with Timothy Busfield in it," while her son Michael Boxleitner - Busfield's "youngest stepson" - wrote, "Timothy Busfield is my hero."
In prosecutors' motion for pretrial detention, it was revealed that the family of another alleged victim came forward.
A man, Colin Swift, told law enforcement on Jan. 13 that Busfield sexually abused his daughter "several years ago" in Northern California. The allegation is not part of the criminal complaint against the actor.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, RAINN's National Sexual Assault Hotline offers free, confidential, 24/7 support to survivors and their loved ones in English and Spanish at: 800.656.HOPE (4673) and Hotline.RAINN.org and en Español RAINN.org/es.