Actor Gary Busey sentenced for sex crimes after groping woman during horror movie convention

Actor Gary Busey was sentenced Thursday to two years’ probation after pleading guilty to inappropriately touching a woman during a horror movie convention in 2022.

Busey, 81, was accused of groping several women during a photo shoot at Monster-Mania Con, a horror-themed fan convention held at a hotel in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, in August 2022.

Prosecutors said Busey grabbed the buttocks of two women and attempted to unhook another woman’s bra, allegedly asking her, ‘where she got them.’

Busey’s attorney urged the court to impose fines only, pointing to the actor’s advanced age, ongoing health issues, and permanent residence in California.

But, Camden County court Judge Gwendolyn Blue rejected the request, citing the gravity of the offense and Busey’s prior interactions with the criminal justice system.

‘In the interest of justice, I am sentencing this defendant to two years’ probation,’ Blue said.

As part of the sentence, the judge also barred Busey from having any contact with the victim, ABC6 reported.

He has 45 days to appeal the ruling and may petition to have his probation transferred to California – a result his attorney said he is ‘pleased’ with.

Actor Gary Busey (pictured) was sentenced Thursday to two years’ probation after pleading guilty to inappropriately touching a woman during a horror movie convention in 2022

The Buddy Holly Story actor was accused of groping several women during a photo shoot at Monster-Mania Con, a horror-themed fan convention held at a hotel in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, in August 2022

‘Mr. Busey is pleased that the case has been resolved and that he can go on with his life without any continuing, daily public adversity,’ Zwillman said Saturday.

Initially, Busey denied all wrongdoing and shortly after the charges were filed he told a reporter that ‘nothing happened’ and claimed the women had fabricated the story and pleaded not guilty at an arraignment in March 2025.

But in July, Busey reversed course and pleaded guilty to one count of fourth-degree criminal sexual contact, with his attorney, Blair Zwillman, stating the charge was related to ‘touching the buttocks of a female over the clothing.’

During the hearing, which saw the 81-year-old actor appear via Zoom from his home in California, he admitted the assault was ‘not an accidental touching.’

When he was asked by Judge Blue in July: ‘It is my understanding that you wish to plead guilty to a fourth degree criminal sexual contact today, is that correct?’, Busey looked off camera and asked: ‘Am I pleading guilty? No.’

He was instantly corrected by his legal team who called out ‘yes!’ with Busey saying: ‘I am? Ok I am.’

Judge Blue responded: ‘No, no, no that’s not how it works’ before clarifying Busey had spoken with his attorneys about the charge.

When asked again if he wanted to plead guilty, Busey said: ‘Yeah.’ The incident marked a serious legal setback for Busey, whose career spans decades.

Initially, Busey denied all wrongdoing after the charges were filed, he told a reporter from the celebrity news outlet TMZ that ‘nothing happened’

The incident marked a serious legal setback for Busey, whose career spans decades. Pictured: Gary Busey on the set of ‘Big Wednesday’, at Sunset Beach in Hawaii, September 1977

Born in Texas and raised in Oklahoma, Busey earned an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of rock-and-roll icon Buddy Holly in the 1978 film The Buddy Holly Story.

He later starred in films like Lethal Weapon and Predator 2, and made numerous appearances on television.

In 1988, Busey sustained a traumatic brain injury in a motorcycle accident, and has publicly battled substance abuse, appearing on the reality series Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew in 2008, The New York Times reported.

More recently, he portrayed God in the 2019 Off-Broadway musical Only Human.