• Gary Busey pleaded guilty to fourth-degree criminal sexual contact after groping a woman at a 2022 horror convention in New Jersey.
• He faces up to five years of probation, must pay fines, submit a DNA sample, and will carry a permanent criminal record.
• The incident reignited public backlash, highlighting Busey’s history of erratic behavior, sexual misconduct allegations, and past legal troubles.

Hollywood veteran Gary Busey, 81, has pleaded guilty to a criminal sexual contact charge stemming from an unsettling encounter with a woman at a horror movie convention in New Jersey. The shocking admission comes nearly two years after the alleged incident took place and paints a troubling picture of a once-celebrated actor now overshadowed by legal woes and a history of erratic behavior.

A Photo Op Turned Sour

The incident happened on August 13, 2022, during Monster Mania, a popular horror convention held at the Doubletree Hotel in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Busey, a guest celebrity at the event, was accused of groping multiple women during a photoshoot. According to police, he touched two women inappropriately and attempted to unhook another woman’s bra while making a crude comment about her body.

Despite initially denying any wrongdoing, Busey appeared virtually in court and admitted to one count of fourth-degree criminal sexual contact. “It wasn’t an accident,” he confessed. His guilty plea was part of a deal that will see the other charges — including three additional counts of criminal sexual contact and one of attempted contact — dismissed.

He now faces between one to five years of probation, must pay court-ordered fines, provide a DNA sample, and will carry a criminal record going forward.

Claims of a Faulty Investigation Rejected

Busey’s defense attorney, Blair Zwillman, tried to have the indictment tossed out. He argued the investigation was flawed and claimed that law enforcement had ignored crucial witnesses. But Judge Gwendolyn Blue rejected the motion, keeping the case alive and moving it to sentencing, which is now scheduled for September 18 via Zoom.

Denial, Blame, and a Bizarre Public Statement

In the days following the 2022 charges, Busey responded in classic tabloid fashion: deflect and deny. Paparazzi caught up with him in Malibu, where he insisted the women had fabricated their stories. “None of that happened,” he said while pumping gas. “There was my partner, a camera lady, and me and two girls. It lasted ten seconds, then they left. It’s all false.”

He insisted he had witnesses who could clear his name, doubling down on his innocence even as reports and sworn statements painted a different picture.

But the police affidavit tells another story. It states that Busey not only grabbed two women but also made a vulgar comment while placing his face near one of the victim’s breasts. He reportedly asked her where she “got them” before trying to unhook her bra. Another woman alleged he grabbed her from behind — and a third woman later made a similar complaint.

When questioned by detectives, Busey reportedly acknowledged that sometimes accidental touching can occur. But his courtroom admission this week confirms that what happened that day was anything but accidental.

The Convention’s Response: Immediate and Firm

The organizers of Monster Mania acted swiftly. According to attorney Nikitas Moustakas, Busey was immediately removed from the venue once complaints were made. “He was told not to return,” the attorney said, adding that the safety of attendees was their highest priority.

Attendees were encouraged to speak with law enforcement, and many praised the event staff for how quickly they acted. Still, the scandal cast a long shadow over what was meant to be a fun weekend for fans.

A Public Meltdown on a Malibu Bench

Just days after the accusations surfaced, Busey found himself making headlines again — this time for an entirely different and bizarre reason. He was photographed sitting on a public bench near his Malibu home with his pants around his ankles and his hand lodged in his crotch.

His representatives offered a strange explanation: perhaps he couldn’t make it to the bathroom in time. “Gary often sits on that bench to meditate and look at the ocean,” the spokesperson said. They insisted he was on private property, though the bench is visible from the street.

In the photo, Busey wore a shirt referencing “Point Break,” the 1991 action film in which he starred. He pulled out his phone, then pulled down his pants and appeared to look around nervously. The video quickly went viral — another bizarre chapter in his long, controversial history.

A Troubled Legacy

Though Busey has played memorable roles in classics like Lethal Weapon, Under Siege, and The Buddy Holly Story (for which he received an Oscar nomination), his legacy is deeply complicated. His career, once promising, has been consistently overshadowed by controversies, legal issues, and odd public behavior.

Busey’s life took a dramatic turn after a devastating motorcycle accident in 1988. He suffered severe brain damage, particularly to the frontal lobe, which affected his personality. His son Jake, also an actor, has publicly said that the crash changed his father forever.

“He became more impulsive, more aggressive,” Jake told The Hollywood Reporter. “I lost my dad that day.”

Indeed, Busey’s behavior in the years since has been troubling. He has faced numerous accusations of sexual misconduct. A former Celebrity Apprentice employee once accused him of groping her during a break, saying he grabbed her between the legs, touched her breasts, and even placed her hand on his crotch.

Drugs, Violence, and a History of Trouble

In 1995, police raided Busey’s home in Malibu and found cocaine, marijuana, and hallucinogenic mushrooms. He was charged with multiple counts of drug possession. He has also faced spousal abuse charges, adding to a long rap sheet of troubling incidents.

In the Hollywood Reporter profile, Busey was quoted making inappropriate comments to crew members, including asking a male assistant if he “used to be a woman” and telling a female stylist that he would “tickle [her] until [she] pee[s].”

What Happens Now?

Busey’s sentencing is set for mid-September, and the public’s reaction has been one of outrage and exhaustion. For many, the guilty plea was not a surprise but a long-overdue moment of accountability. On social media, fans expressed disappointment, especially those who once admired the actor’s eccentric but talented performances.

“I used to love him in The Buddy Holly Story,” one fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “Now I can’t even look at his face without feeling disgusted.”

Some still cling to the hope that Busey will seek help and take responsibility, while others argue that the time for redemption has long passed.

For a man whose life has unfolded like a chaotic movie script, this might be the final act. But in Hollywood — especially in stories like these — there’s always the lingering question: what happens next?