Gary Busey was sentenced Thursday to two years' probation after pleading guilty to one count of fourth-degree criminal sexual contact for inappropriately touching a woman during Monster-Mania Con, a horror-themed fan convention in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, in August 2022. The 81-year-old actor appeared via Zoom from his home in California for the hearing. The judge also barred Busey from having any contact with the alleged victim and said he could petition to have his probation transferred to California, with 45 days to appeal.
Prosecutors said Busey grabbed the buttocks of two women and attempted to unhook another woman's bra during a photo shoot at the convention. He allegedly asked one of them where she had gotten her attire. In July, Busey pleaded guilty to the single count, with his attorney saying the charge related to 'touching the buttocks of a female over the clothing' rather than an explicit act of sexual assault. He appeared to hesitate when he was asked to confirm his guilty plea during the July hearing, but was corrected by his lawyers and ultimately entered the plea.
Judge Blue said: "In the interest of justice, I am sentencing this defendant to two years' probation." The judge noted the gravity of the offense as well as Busey's prior interactions with the criminal justice system. The order prohibits any contact with the victim.
Zwillman added: "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." He said Busey initially denied wrongdoing after charges were filed, telling a TMZ reporter that "nothing happened."
Timeline: After charges were filed, Busey initially denied wrongdoing and told TMZ that "nothing happened." He pled not guilty at an arraignment in March 2025. In July, he reversed course and pled guilty to one count of fourth-degree criminal sexual contact.
Career context: The Buddy Holly Story star, born in Texas and raised in Oklahoma, earned an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Buddy Holly in the 1978 film The Buddy Holly Story. He later starred in films like Lethal Weapon and Predator 2, and made numerous television appearances. In 1988, Busey sustained a traumatic brain injury in a motorcycle crash and has publicly battled substance abuse, appearing on the reality series Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew in 2008. More recently, he portrayed God in the 2019 Off-Broadway musical Only Human.
Monster-Mania Con is a horror-themed fan convention held at a hotel in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, drawing fans, cosplayers, and actors.
With the sentence, the case marks a significant legal development for Busey, whose career spans decades and who has long faced public attention for both his work and personal history. The ruling also leaves open the possibility of an appeal within 45 days and a potential petition to transfer probation to California, as his attorney indicated. The proceeding underscores ongoing scrutiny of conduct at fan conventions, where intersections of celebrity, fandom, and personal boundaries can become high-profile legal matters.