Gary Busey, the 81-year-old actor known for wild antics and cult film roles, has pleaded guilty to criminal sexual contact after admitting he groped a woman during a fan meet-and-greet at a New Jersey horror convention in 2022.
The plea was entered Thursday during a virtual appearance before Camden County Superior Court Judge Gwendolyn Blue. The incident occurred at Monster-Mania Con at the Doubletree Hotel in Cherry Hill, where Busey was a scheduled guest.
During the hearing, Busey admitted he “inappropriately touched the buttocks of an adult female over clothing,” and acknowledged the contact was intentional. Two women had accused Busey of groping them at the event. He was initially facing multiple charges, but under the plea deal, prosecutors dropped three additional counts of criminal sexual contact and one count of attempted contact.
The plea deal calls for one to five years of probation, fines, and a permanent criminal record.
Busey has long been known for erratic behavior — including once claiming he snorted cocaine off a dog. His credits include The Buddy Holly Story, Point Break, Lethal Weapon, and the horror spoof The Gingerdead Man. Monster-Mania Con is a popular horror-themed fan convention featuring celebrity guests and memorabilia.
Key Points
- Gary Busey pleaded guilty to criminal sexual contact for groping a woman at a 2022 fan convention in New Jersey
- The actor admitted the touching was intentional, and prosecutors dropped additional charges under a plea deal
- He will serve one to five years of probation and now has a criminal record
Gary Busey’s offscreen behavior took another turn as the Hollywood veteran admitted to groping a fan at a horror convention.