Gary Busey sentenced to two years of probation in New Jersey groping case

Gary Busey, 81, was sentenced to two years of probation after pleading guilty to one count of fourth-degree criminal sexual contact for inappropriately touching a woman at a New Jersey horror film convention in August 2022. The sentence was handed down Thursday in a virtual court appearance before Judge Gwendolyn Blue, according to court documents obtained by Page Six. As part of the plea, he must submit a DNA sample and refrain from contact with two of the victims.

Prosecutors dismissed the remaining charges against him as part of the deal, including three additional counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual contact and one count of attempted fourth-degree criminal sexual contact. The incident occurred during the Monster-Mania Con at the Doubletree Hotel in Camden, New Jersey, in August 2022. During the proceeding, Busey conceded, 'It was not an accidental touching,'according to coverage of the hearing. Several women had accused the actor of inappropriately touching them during a photo op at the convention, which sparked the initial wave of coverage.

Busey’s attorney, Blair Zwillman, told Page Six that the actor is glad to move on from the circumstance in New Jersey, which he said has led to extremely negative press for more than three years — to no fault of his own. 'He’s retired, he treasures his life as an actor and wants to move forward,' the lawyer added.

Earlier in the case, Busey denied the allegations to TMZ, saying that 'nothing happened' at the convention and that the encounter with the women 'took less than 10 seconds.' Two women had claimed that Busey grabbed their buttocks and attempted to unhook one of their bras. The defense and prosecutors ultimately reached a plea deal that resolved the case with the guilty plea to a single count and the dismissal of the remaining counts.

Busey is widely known for his work in The Buddy Holly Story and for roles in other films such as Predator 2. At 81, the Oscar-nominated actor has faced years of media attention stemming from the allegations at Monster-Mania Con in Camden and the subsequent legal proceedings. Court documents and reporting from Page Six confirm the terms of the sentence and the disposition of the remaining charges, signaling an end to this chapter for Busey, at least in the courtroom sense. This report compiles the information available from the court filing and coverage from Page Six.