Timothy Busfield, a 68-year-old director who worked on the Fox TV show “The Cleaning Lady,” was indicted Friday in New Mexico on four counts of child sexual abuse. This indictment came two weeks after his release from jail on the same charges. Busfield is accused of groping a 7-year-old boy on the set of the aforementioned television series and has adamantly denied all accusations against him.

The legal process began with Busfield surrendering to authorities in Albuquerque, N.M., on January 13, following the issuance of an arrest warrant. During a subsequent hearing held a week later, the Bernalillo County district attorney sought to keep him in custody pending a trial; however, this request was rejected by a judge. It was at this hearing that the D.A.’s office signaled its intention to present the case to a grand jury for an indictment, which has now occurred. Busfield is scheduled to appear in court next for his arraignment on these charges, with the case being handled by the D.A.’s Special Victims Unit.

In a statement issued Friday, the D.A.’s office reiterated the fundamental legal principle that “As with all criminal proceedings, Mr. Busfield is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.” District Attorney Sam Bregman emphasized the office’s commitment to protecting children, stating, “District Attorney Sam Bregman emphasized that protecting children remains a top priority for his office. The Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office remains committed to doing everything possible to protect children and ensure justice for victims.”

Meanwhile, Busfield’s attorneys have presented a strong defense, arguing that the alleged victims’ parents pursued these charges out of revenge after their sons were removed from the show. In a motion opposing pre-trial detention, the defense asserted, “The Criminal Complaint was driven, not by evidence, but by the efforts of parents with a documented record of deception and financial exploitation to manufacture leverage after losing a six-figure income stream.”

Larry Stein, Busfield’s civil attorney, commented on the indictment, stating it was not unexpected and quoting the saying, “a grand jury will indict a ham sandwich.” Stein expressed deep concern, however, that the District Attorney is proceeding with a case he believes is “fundamentally unsound and cannot be proven at trial.” He further alleged that the January 20 hearing “exposed fatal weaknesses in the State’s evidence” and concluded that “This prosecution appears driven by something other than the facts or the law.” Stein affirmed that “Mr. Busfield will fight these charges at every stage and looks forward to testing the State’s case in open court — where evidence matters — not behind closed doors.”