Actor Gary Busey pleads guilty to groping woman
The 81-year-old actor admitted that he deliberately touched a woman inappropriately whilst posing with fans as he pleaded guilty to criminal sexual misconduct at a virtual court appearance on Thursday.
The incident occurred at the Monster-Mania Con in August 2022 as Busey was accused of groping several women who filed reports with the police.
The star was charged with two counts of criminal sexual contact in the fourth degree, one count of attempting criminal sexual contact in the fourth degree and one disorderly count of harassment.
Under the plea agreement, prosecutors will drop the remaining charges against Busey who faces between one to five years of probation and fines.
He has also agreed not to contact the victim.
Busey, who appeared distracted during the hearing and was scolded by judge Gwendolyn Blue for drinking from a soft drink can, will be sentenced on September 18.
The actor's guilty plea comes after he initially claimed the woman had made up her accusation.
Busey told TMZ in 2022: "None of that happened.
"There were a partner, a camera lady, and me and two girls. It took less than 10 seconds, and then they left. Then, they made up this story that I assaulted them sexually - but I did not."
It is not the first time that the Oscar-nominated actor has fallen foul of the law as he faced drug charges in 1995 following a near-fatal cocaine overdose.
The star - who suffered permanent brain damage in a 1988 motorcycle accident - has previously been arrested on charges of spousal abuse and was also accused of sexual assault by a female employee when he took part in Celebrity Apprentice in 2011.
Busey's son Luke previously recalled how the motorcycle accident completely changed his father's personality after he underwent brain surgery to recover from his serious injuries.
He told The Hollywood Reporter: "At 17, I had to teach him with my mom to talk, to eat, to feed himself. To walk again. To write. That was very difficult for me at that age. The post-accident version of him turned his personality up to 11. I feel like I lost my dad on December 4, 1988."
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