Actor Gary Busey has pleaded guilty to criminal sexual misconduct for inappropriately touching a woman at a horror film convention in New Jersey in 2022. The 81-year-old admitted during a virtual court appearance on Thursday that the touching was intentional.
Under a plea agreement, prosecutors dropped three other counts of criminal sexual contact and one count of attempted criminal sexual contact. The charges stemmed from allegations that Busey groped five women while taking photos at the Monster-Mania convention at a DoubleTree Hilton hotel in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, in August 2022.
Authorities said Busey grabbed the buttocks of two women and attempted to unlatch a third woman's bra with his face near her breasts. His defence lawyer initially argued for dismissal due to a faulty police investigation, but the judge denied the motion.
Busey faces one to five years of probation, fines, and must provide a DNA sample. Sentencing is set for 18 September. Busey, known for roles in films like Point Break and The Buddy Holly Story, has a history of legal issues including drug charges and spousal abuse allegations.
