Latest news with #MonsterManiaConvention
Fox News
01-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Gary Busey pleads guilty to sex crime, admits it was 'not an accidental touching'
Gary Busey pleaded guilty to a sex crime Busey, 81, pleaded guilty to one count of fourth-degree criminal sexual contact connected to accusations from the Monster-Mania Convention on August 13, 2022. "It was not an accidental touching," Busey confirmed in court Thursday, according to Court TV. The actor's additional charges were dismissed. Busey had been charged with two counts of criminal sexual contact in the fourth degree, in addition to one count of attempted criminal sexual contact. He now faces one to five years of probation plus fines. Fox News Digital reached out to Busey's representative for comment. Busey's criminal defense attorney, Blair Zwillman, told People magazine that in order for the judge to accept the guilty plea, "there has to be a factual basis where he admits the offense. He had to admit that it was non-consensual." "This was the best disposition for him. He's glad to put this behind him. He is basically a family guy. He is not a criminal," Zwillman told the outlet. Busey first denied the sexual misconduct allegations after the news broke in 2022. "No, I don't carry any regrets with me ever. None of that happened." According to the actor, there was "a partner and a camera lady, and me and two girls were the only ones in there." Busey claimed the entire encounter "took less than 10 seconds, and they left. Then they made up a story that I assaulted them sexually, and I did not." The "Buddy Holly" star insisted, "Nothing happened. Nothing. It was all false." He was also asked if there was any chance the actor had possibly been inappropriate and just unaware of his actions, to which he replied, "No, not inappropriate at all. I have eyewitnesses there." At the time, Monster-Mania released a statement saying the convention was "assisting authorities in their investigation into an alleged incident involving attendees and a celebrity guest." "Immediately upon receiving a complaint from the attendees, the celebrity guest was removed from the convention and instructed not to return. Monster-Mania also encouraged the attendees to contact the police to file a report," the post stated.
Yahoo
01-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Gary Busey pleads guilty to groping woman at NJ horror movie convention
Actor Gary Busey pleaded guilty to a sex crime charge Thursday in connection to a 2022 incident at a horror movie convention in New Jersey. Busey, 81, pleaded guilty to one count of fourth-degree criminal sexual contact after admitting to intentionally touching a woman inappropriately at the Monster-Mania Convention at the Doubletree Hotel in Cherry Hill on Aug. 13, 2022. 'It was not an accidental touching,' Busey told the judge during a Zoom hearing published by CourtTV. Busey had initially been charged with two counts of criminal sexual contact, one count of attempted criminal sexual contact and one count of harassment. The actor was accused of groping at least three women during photo-ops at the convention and attempting to remove one's bra. As the result of a plea agreement, three of those charges were dropped. For the one remaining count of criminal sexual contact, Busey now faces between one and five years of probation, as well as fines. His sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 18. Prior to Busey entering his guilty plea, his defense attorney had attempted to get the indictment dismissed, claiming that police failed to question certain witnesses. A jurist denied that motion, confirming that witness testimony had been gathered and properly presented to the grand jury. Busey has appeared in more than 150 movies. He was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar for 'The Buddy Holly Story' and later starred in action movies like 'Lethal Weapon,' 'Point Break' and 'Under Siege.' He went on to appear on a number of reality shows, including 'The Surreal Life' and 'I'm With Busey.' In 1988, he suffered a fractured skull in a near-fatal motorcycle accident that left him with permanent brain damage. _____
