Entertainment
Actor Timothy Busfield ordered released from jail pending trial in child sex abuse case in New Mexico
A judge has ordered that actor Timothy Busfield be released from jail as he awaits trial on child sex abuse charges.
The order Tuesday, by state district court Judge David Murphy during a detention hearing, is linked to accusations that Busfield inappropriately touched a minor while working as a director on the set of the series “The Cleaning Lady.”
The judge ordered that the defendant be released on his own recognizance, pending trial. Busfield will be supervised upon release by a pretrial service in Albuquerque, and can leave the state to live at home, the judge said. Under the conditions of his release, Busfield cannot be in possession of firearms or drugs and can’t have contact with the alleged victims.
Busfield, an Emmy Award-winning actor who is known for appearances in “The West Wing,” “Field of Dreams” and “Thirtysomething,” was ordered held without bond last week at his first court appearance. Busfield called the allegations lies in a video shared before he turned himself in.
AJ Skuy / AP
At the hearing Tuesday, Busfield was handcuffed and dressed in an orange jail uniform in a New Mexico state district court, while wife and actor Melissa Gilbert watched from the court gallery.
Gilbert was tearful while exiting the courtroom after the judge ordered Busfield’s release.
Gilbert, who played Laura Ingalls in the 1970s to ’80s TV series “Little House on the Prairie,” is on the list of potential witnesses submitted ahead of the hearing.
Albuquerque police issued a warrant for Busfield’s arrest earlier this month on two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse. A criminal complaint alleges the acts occurred on the set of the series “The Cleaning Lady.”
According to the criminal complaint, an investigator with the police department says the child reported Busfield touched him on private areas over his clothing on one occasion when he was 7 years old and another time when he was 8. The boy’s twin brother told authorities he was also touched by Busfield, but did not specify where. He said he didn’t say anything because he didn’t want to get in trouble.
On Monday, Busfield’s attorneys submitted two brief audio recordings of initial police interviews in which the children say Busfield did not touch them in private areas. The attorneys in a court filing argue that the complaint characterizes the interviews as a failure to disclose abuse, but an “unequivocal denial is materially different from a mere absence of disclosure.”
According to the criminal complaint, one of the boys disclosed during a therapy session that he was inappropriately touched by the show’s director. Those records were obtained by police during the investigation.
Arguing Tuesday for Busfield’s continued detention, Bernalillo County Assistant District Attorney Savannah Brandenburg-Koch called evidence of abuse against Busfield strong and specific.
“The boys’ allegation are supported by medical findings and by their therapist,” Brandenburg-Koch said. “Their accounts were specific and not exaggerated.”
She also described a documented pattern of sexual misconduct, abuse of authority and grooming behavior by Busfield over the past three decades. Prosecutors also say witnesses have expressed fear regarding retaliation and professional harm.
“GPS is not going to tell this court if he is around children or talking to witnesses,” Brandenburg-Koch said.
Busfield’s attorneys have argued that the allegations emerged only after the boys lost their role in the TV show, creating a financial and retaliatory motive. The filings detailed what the attorneys said was a history of fraud by both the boys’ father and mother. They cited an investigation by Warner Bros. that found the allegations unfounded.
Busfield also submitted letters vouching for his character, and his attorneys say he passed an independent polygraph test.
Legal experts say New Mexico is among a few states that allow polygraph evidence in criminal cases, but a judge has final say over whether one can be used. There are strict requirements for admission.
Denise Richards was able to make some lovely memories with Patrick Muldoon before his sudden death from a heart attack last week.
Muldoon and Richards — who dated in the 90s for five years and remained best friends for decades later — play romantic partners in the new action crime thriller film Dirty Hands, out in theatres on Friday, April 24.
“Pat & I were supposed to do press this week for Dirty Hands” Richards wrote on Instagram. “He was so passionate about this movie & worked so hard on it…We did our first movie together & I am so blessed & grateful I did his last movie with him.”
The post was accompanied by an emotional scene between their characters: Muldoon plays Chicago drug runner Patrick Muldoon and Richards plays his girlfriend Sheila, who is torn between her loyalties.
Richards, 55, and Muldoon, who was 57, first starred together in Starship Troopers in 1997, when they were 19 and 21 respectively. They formed a strong bond and dated for five years before deciding to remain friends.
Earlier this week, the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star paid tribute to Muldoon on Instagram, admitting she’s “deeply heartbroken and devastated” losing her “best friend” and “family.”
“My whole adult life & I don’t know it without you. The friendship, love, support, respect & loyalty we we had was unconditional and rare,” she wrote. “You’ve had my back and protected me more than anyone. I don’t know what I’m going to do without you here.”
Anne Hathaway has already established that she is a massive Taylor Swift fan, but in one of her latest interviews she looked back at what started it all.
The 43-year-old actress, who enthusiastically attended the pop superstar’s Eras Tour shows, shared that despite always being a fan, Anti-Hero was the one song which turned her into a Swiftie.
“I always really, really liked Taylor, but that was the song where I was like, oh no, wait, she’s taking hold of my brain. And then I got much deeper into her music. And then once you see it, you can’t unsee it. You’re just like, Oh, she’s a genius,” the One Day star noted.
Hathaway continued speaking of Swift’s discography, saying, “All of her eras ‘speak to each other.’ To have a retrospective like that at the age that she is, and to realize that she had a vision that didn’t exist in the world, and she literally made the space that she wanted for herself.”
The Devil Wears Prada actress made a wave with her comments, on social media, as other Swifties agreed with her, while many also expressed their shock at the choice.
“Well yes Anne!!!! I knew you would understand,” one fan wrote on X, while another added, “It’s takes time to understand that Taylor is a genius. And once you figure that out, there is no going back.”
A third chimed in and wrote, “‘and then once you see it, you can’t unsee it’ yep pretty much sums up what being a swiftie is.”
While another said, “omg finally justice for anti-hero, it takes a legend to recognise that.”
Royal family members hold their breath as new drama is set to unfold from Sarah Ferguson’s side.
After losing her royal titles and perks, Fergie has been lying low in order to keep away from further controversy.
Most recently, she was photographed in Austria at a luxury ski resort.
But the sources have been claiming that she will not keep quiet; instead, she tells her side of the story, which could be disastrous for King Charles and his family.
According to Woman’s Day, the former Duchess of York has been offered $2.45million for a tell-all interview by an American journalist.
“Sarah’s come out of shock and is now furious at what’s happened to her life. She wants to sit down and tell her side of her association with Epstein – and what she knew in hindsight about Andrew’s association. And she’s got a LOT to tell,” an insider shared.
Beatrice and Eugenie’s mother’s revelations would be dangerous and could put the monarchy at tough spot.
“She and Andrew had an open arrangement, so if she goes down, they all go down,” the source said.
It has been claimed that Sarah Ferguson is going to become the “real thorn in the crown” for the King and the Prince of Wales.
Not only that, she might exposed more details about her former husband Andrew’s ties with Epstein.
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