Gary Busey, the 78-year-old acclaimed actor known for roles in films like The Buddy Holly Story and Point Break, made headlines recently after being charged with two counts of criminal sexual contact, one count of attempted criminal sexual contact, and one count of harassment. The charges stem from incidents that allegedly occurred at the Monster-Mania Convention in Cherry Hill, New Jersey earlier this month. In this artice we talk about Gary Busey Denials of Sex Crime Allegations Making Headlines.
Busey was a featured guest at the biannual pop culture convention that took place August 12th-14th at the Doubletree Hotel. According to authorities, Busey allegedly inappropriately touched two female attendees during the three-day event. Few details about the specific allegations have been released at this point by police.
Gary Busey Denies Any Wrongdoing
In a video interview with TMZ on August 22nd, Busey denied any wrongdoing and said he has no regrets over his behavior at Monster-Mania. “It was all false. I don’t care because there are no accusations,” Busey told TMZ.
He went on to give his account of what happened with the two accusers, stating, “There were two girls that came up to me and asked me if I would take a picture with them. And I said sure. When we took the picture, they put their arms around me and moved their body up against my body. Then they walked away. Then they made their story that I groped them.”
Busey claimed the entire interaction lasted less than 10 seconds. He also stated his partner and a camerawoman witnessed what occurred and could corroborate that nothing inappropriate happened when he posed for the photo with the two women. “I’m telling you the truth. Nothing happened,” he reiterated.
Authorities Paint Different Picture of Encounters
Despite Busey’s denials, authorities seem to indicate there was more to the encounters than the actor described. According to Cherry Hill Police Lt. Robert Scheunemann, the charges are related to “contact” and “touching” that was more than just posing for a picture.
Donna Weaver of the Camden County prosecutor’s office also hinted that more took place, declining to comment specifically on the charges but stating, “We’re not commenting.”
This indicates investigators likely have additional accounts of what transpired between Busey and the alleged victims, leading to the multiple charges. Police also confirmed the women filed official complaints shortly after the encounters.
Long Career Now Potentially Tarnished
The allegations of sexual misconduct against Gary Busey threaten to tarnish a career spanning five decades in Hollywood. Busey rose to fame in 1978 for his critically acclaimed portrayal of rock n’ roll legend Buddy Holly in The Buddy Holly Story.
His performance earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. He later starred in hit films like Lethal Weapon, Predator 2, and Point Break. In recent years, Busey has made appearances on reality shows like Celebrity Apprentice and a stint on Big Brother UK.
This is not the first time Busey’s behavior raised concerns. In 2011, while filming Celebrity Apprentice, he was accused of acting inappropriately towards female contestants. The show’s producers also raised flags about his conduct, but no charges came of it.
Busey has a history of drug and alcohol problems that resulted from a devastating motorcycle accident in 1988. The crash left him with permanent brain damage that some believe impacted his mental state and demeanor.
The recent charges have fans and the media speculating how the allegations, if proven true, will affect his career moving forward. Many are also questioning if organizers should have been aware of Busey’s past before allowing him to appear and interact with attendees at a convention heavily attended by women.
Busey Pleads Not Guilty, Investigation Ongoing
Busey has entered a not guilty plea to the charges levied against him. He maintains he did nothing wrong, but authorities are not backing down from their investigation. Police have indicated they are looking to speak with more potential witnesses from the convention.
The question now remains whether Busey will face actual jail time, fines, or other penalties if found guilty. Due to the nature of the charges, he could potentially serve jail time. But some legal experts argue that is unlikely given his age and health issues. However, the allegations may make it difficult for the actor to get hired for future projects depending on how the case plays out.
Busey is scheduled to make his first court appearance to face the charges in late October. Both police and prosecutors are asking any other attendees who may have had inappropriate encounters with Busey at Monster-Mania to come forward to aid their investigation before then.
In the meantime, Busey continues maintaining no sexual misconduct occurred. He told TMZ he expects to be cleared of the charges and hopes to sue the women for defamation down the road. But authorities seem confident in the victims’ accounts as they move forward preparing the criminal case against the embattled actor. I sincerely hope you find this “Gary Busey Denials of Sex Crime Allegations Making Headlines?” article helpful.
Skylar Lacey, a Travel and Tourism Management graduate from Temple University, offers 5 years of experience in travel writing and airport logistics at PhiladelphiaAirport.net. Her expertise helps travelers make the most of their journeys through Philadelphia International Airport. Connect with her on Instagram for more travel tips and insights.
