Gary Busey Admits to Sex Crime at NJ Horror Event

In Cherry Hill, New Jersey, veteran actor Gary Busey has admitted his culpability in a sexual offense linked to a 2022 horror convention appearance, as detailed by both court documents and his management team.

Ron Sampson, who manages the 81-year-old star, shared in an email that Busey confessed to inappropriately touching a woman’s backside over her clothing. This incident reportedly took place during a brief photo opportunity lasting between eight to ten seconds.

During a virtual session conducted by a Camden state court on Thursday, Busey pleaded guilty to one charge of criminal sexual contact. This accusation pointed to inappropriate actions towards at least three individuals at the Monster-Mania Convention held at the Doubletree Hotel in Cherry Hill. This suburban area of South Jersey is located near Philadelphia.

The convention’s organizers initially dealt with the situation by dismissing an unnamed celebrity attendee and urging affected visitors to report any grievances to law enforcement. Busey, who was supposed to appear over the event’s three-day span, was originally confronted with multiple allegations, including two counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual contact, one count of attempted sexual contact, and a harassment charge.

Blair Zwillman, Busey’s attorney, disclosed that through a plea agreement, the additional charges against Busey were dismissed. Busey now faces the prospect of up to five years of probation alongside potential fines, with a final sentencing date set for September 18.

Zwillman further commented via email, “In my view, Mr. Busey was ‘overcharged’ likely due to his celebrity status. A simpler charge of harassment through ‘offensive touching’ might have been more appropriate.” Attempts to obtain comments from Camden County’s prosecutors’ office on Friday were unsuccessful.

Gary Busey is widely recognized in the entertainment industry, often portraying character roles in films. He first rose to prominence and received an Oscar nomination for his leading role in the 1978 movie “The Buddy Holly Story.”