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The
81-year-old “Buddy Holly” star's manager, Ron Sampson, said in
an email Friday that the actor admitted to touching a woman's
buttocks "over clothing during an 8-10 second photo op.”
Busey entered a guilty plea to a single count of criminal sexual
contact during a virtual hearing in state court in Camden on
Thursday.
The actor had been accused of inappropriately touching at least
three women at the Monster-Mania Convention at the Doubletree
Hotel in Cherry Hill, a South Jersey town and suburb of
Philadelphia.
Organizers of the event acknowledged at the time that an unnamed
celebrity guest was "removed from the convention and instructed
not to return" and that affected attendees were encouraged to
contact police.
Busey had been scheduled as a featured guest for all three days
of the event. He was initially charged with two counts of
fourth-degree criminal sexual contact, one count of attempted
criminal sexual contact and one count of harassment.
Busey’s lawyer, Blair Zwillman, confirmed Friday that the other
charges were dropped as part of a plea deal reached with
prosecutors. The actor faces up to five years’ probation and
fines when he is sentenced Sept. 18.
“In my view Mr. Busey was ‘overcharged’ probably based on his
star status,” Zwillman said in an email. “He could have just as
easily been charged with the disorderly persons offense of
harassment by 'offensive touching'.”
Spokespersons for Camden County prosecutors didn't immediately
respond to an email seeking comment Friday.
Busey is widely known as a character actor, largely in
supporting roles, though he came to attention and was nominated
for an Oscar for best actor for playing the title role in the
1978 film “The Buddy Holly Story.”
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