Timothy Busfield legal team claims accusers’ parents have financial motive

Timothy Busfield’s legal team He argued that the parents of the defendants in the actor’s child sex abuse case have a “well-documented history of fraud and dishonesty.”

Ronald Rhodes and Angel LaSalle, the twins’ parents, had a “clear financial and vindictive motive” when filing a criminal complaint against Busfield earlier this month, the actor’s lawyers said in documents obtained by Fox News Digital.

Busfield (68 years old) surrendered to Local authorities On charges of child sexual assault on January 13. He was being held without bail at the time of his arrest on two counts of criminal sexual contact with a minor and one count of child abuse.

Timothy Busfield will be released from custody in a New Mexico child sex abuse case

Timothy Busfield appeared in court in New Mexico on Tuesday for a pretrial hearing in his child sex abuse case. (EG Squee for Fox News Digital)

In a response opposing pretrial detention, his team said the state Case v. Busfield It was built “almost entirely on the accounts of the stage fathers” who “were not impartial observers.”

“Their allegations only came to light after the loss of the twins’ roles — and only after consultation with civil counsel — creating a clear financial and retaliatory motive. This motive must be evaluated in light of the couple’s well-documented history of fraud and dishonesty.”

Busfield’s attorneys noted that Rhodes is “a former attorney who was convicted of federal conspiracy and wire fraud and was later disbarred after that trial for a multi-million dollar scheme in which he used his law license to defraud vulnerable victims for profit.”

Rhodes pleaded guilty in 2017 to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. He was sentenced to 41 months in prison and ordered to pay nearly $4 million in restitution for his role in a multi-million dollar fraudulent mortgage modification scheme.

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During Tuesday’s hearing, Amber Fairberg urged Judge David Murphy to release Busfield from custody pending trial because he was the victim of a retaliation campaign by Rhodes and LaSalle.

“There are victims, and they are still those two boys. But they were not Tim Busfield’s victim,” Fireberg said. “They were victimized by their parents, who could no longer make money as lawyers who were disbarred, who could no longer write bad checks, took 85% of the money they made on a TV show, and then were turned into victims in retaliation.”

The “West Wing” actor has been charged with two counts of criminal sexual contact with a minor and one count of child abuse. (Eric Lebowitz)

According to an arrest warrant obtained by Fox News Digital, the twins, who are 11 years old, allege that the director, whom they were told to call Uncle Tim on the set of “Cleaning Lady,” touched them inappropriately.

One of the twins claimed that an incident occurred while he was alone with Busfield in the bedroom, alleging that he had been touched by clothing on his genitals and buttocks. The memo also states that hospital professionals later informed the parents that the children showed signs of “setting.”

Judge Murphy ruled Tuesday that “The West Wing” actor can be released while he awaits trial on child sexual assault charges.

“You have been allowed to be released on your own recognizance and on the conditions that you will appear at all future court hearings,” Judge Murphy said. “You didn’t break any laws.”

Additionally, Busfield was ordered not to discuss the case with any witnesses or have contact with children under the age of 18. The next hearing is scheduled for February 4.

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New Mexico Prosecutors argued Tuesday that Busfield has a history of making inappropriate advances, describing a report from actress Claudia Christian, who claimed Busfield “forcibly grabbed her and threw her against a wall” while they were working together on the movie “The Strays.” Christian allegedly reported the incident to the assistant director.

Timothy Busfield’s legal team argued that the state’s case against Busfield was built “almost entirely on the parents’ two-stage calculations.” (EG Squee for Fox News Digital)

In considering bail conditions, the state noted that 87 letters of support had been submitted on Bousfield’s behalf, stating that “he would never do that.”

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“The state is concerned that the defendant is once again using his control in determining when he wants to comply with the order,” prosecutors said. “This order did not say, ‘Sure, turn yourself in in 5 days.’ This order was to get him arrested and deal with these charges. Instead, he drove 2,000 miles, got a polygraph.”

Days before Bousfield was arrested and held without bail on multiple counts of child sexual assault, the 68-year-old actor underwent a psychosexual evaluation at the recommendation of his attorney.

After a comprehensive look at Busfield’s family history, background and social and sexual behaviour, the actor was assessed as ‘extremely low risk’ based on the results of the clinical interview and indicated risk assessment procedures.

On January 9, an arrest warrant was issued for Director W Emmy Award-winning actorand was acquired by Fox News Digital.

Melissa Gilbert put her hands to her face and cried after a judge ordered her husband, Timothy Busfield, released from custody. (YouTube)

The police investigation into the allegations against Busfield began on November 1, 2024, after a doctor at the University of New Mexico Hospital alerted officers about a case of alleged sexual assault.

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In a police audio recording submitted to court Monday by Busfield’s attorney and obtained by Fox News Digital, the police officer asked the child actors: “Did you know that no one can touch your private areas?” The twin says to him: “Yes.”

The police officer then asks them if Busfield touched their private areas. The twins said: No.

Busfield is currently charged with two counts of criminal sexual intercourse of a minor, a child under 13, and one count of child abuse. Under New Mexico law, each charge of criminal sexual contact carries up to six years in prison, and child abuse carries up to three years, Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman said.

If convicted, Busfield could face up to 15 years in prison.