Gary Busey Makes Shocking Admission While Pleading Guilty To Sex Crimes Charge

Gary Busey has officially entered a guilty plea in his criminal sexual contact case stemming from a 2022 incident at a fan convention.

The "Buddy Holly Story" actor appeared virtually in court on Thursday, July 31, where he admitted to inappropriately touching a woman during the semi-annual Monster-Mania Convention at a Doubletree Hotel in New Jersey.

Initially, Gary Busey was facing four counts of criminal sexual contact and one count of attempted criminal sexual contact after three women reported being touched inappropriately during the autograph signing and meet-and-greet.

“It was not an accidental touching,” Busey shockingly admitted to the judge, according to The Guardian.

Despite the admission, Busey’s criminal defense attorney, Blair Zwillman insisted this was the best outcome for the 80-year-old actor.

“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. We’re going to ask that he just be fined and end it,” the attorney said.

He also confirmed that his client had to explicitly acknowledge wrongdoing in order for the plea to be accepted.

“There has to be a factual basis where he admits the offense. He had to admit that it was non-consensual,” Zwillman explained to PEOPLE.

Back in 2022, police were called to a New Jersey hotel after multiple women accused Busey of groping them during photo ops at Monster-Mania Con.

One of the alleged victims told officers that Busey got uncomfortably close, made lewd remarks about her chest, and even tried to unhook her bra. Another woman claimed the actor grabbed her butt during the meet-and-greet session.

Shockingly, the following day, authorities received yet another call from a different woman, who also accused the actor of assault, saying he grabbed her behind at the same event.

When the allegations first surfaced, Busey strongly denied them in an interview with TMZ.

“None of that happened,” he claimed. “It was a partner, a camera lady and me, and two girls … it took less than 10 seconds, and they left. Then they made up a story that I assaulted them sexually and I did not. Nothing happened, it’s all false.”

Thursday’s guilty plea isn’t the first time Busey has found himself in legal hot water. Back in 1995, the actor was hit with drug charges after a near-fatal cocaine overdose landed him in the hospital.

Then in 2001, his ex-wife, actress Tiani Warden, claimed Busey violently attacked her during a shocking altercation.

“Things got very ugly, very fast,” Warden told Radar Online in an interview. “He forcibly grabbed me and tried to take off my clothes. When I tried to get away, he pounced on me like an animal and pulled me to the ground. The more I fought, the more violent he became. This beating could have sent me to my grave.”

A decade later, Busey made headlines again during his 2011 stint on "Celebrity Apprentice." A female staffer accused the actor of sexually assaulting her while filming.

“We were smoking cigarettes outside, and Busey was standing next to me. And then at one point, he grabbed me firmly between my legs, and ran his hand up my stomach, and grabbed my breasts,” the employee alleged.

Multiple staffers claimed Donald Trump was aware of the allegations, though he didn't do anything about them, and instead brushed them off with laughter.

Busey, who was nominated for an Oscar for his role as Buddy Holly in "The Buddy Holly Story," has starred in dozens of films, including "Predator 2" and "Point Break."

Now, his decades-long career is overshadowed by the conviction that will follow him beyond Hollywood.

With the plea deal, Busey now faces fines and a possible sentence of one to five years of probation. His official sentencing has not yet been scheduled.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.