Actor Gary Busey has pleaded guilty to a sexual assault that occurred during his participation in the 2022 New Jersey Horror Festival, according to his representatives and court records.
The 81-year-old Buddy Holly actor's manager, Ron Sampson, said in an email on Friday that the actor admitted to touching a woman's buttocks “through her clothing during an 8-10 second photo shoot.”
Busey pleaded guilty to one charge of sexual contact during a virtual court hearing in Camden on Thursday.
The actor was accused of inappropriately touching at least three women at the Monster Mania convention held at the Doubletree Hotel in Cherry Hill, a South Jersey suburb of Philadelphia.
Event organisers confirmed at the time that the unnamed celebrity guest had been “removed from the convention and instructed not to return” and that affected attendees were advised to contact the police.
Busey was scheduled to be the guest of honor for all three days of the event. He was initially charged with two counts of fourth-degree sexual contact, one count of attempted sexual contact, and one count of harassment.
Busey's attorney, Blair Zwillman, confirmed Friday that the other charges were dropped as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors. The actor faces up to five years of probation and fines when he is sentenced Sept. 18.
“In my opinion, Mr. Busey was ‘overcharged,’ likely due to his celebrity status,” Mr. Zwillman wrote in an email. “He could just as easily have been charged with disorderly conduct, namely harassment through ‘offensive touching.’”
Camden County prosecutors did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment sent Friday.
Busey is widely known as a colorful actor, mostly for his supporting roles, although he also gained attention and was nominated for an Oscar for his leading role in the 1978 film The Buddy Holly Story.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
