Gary Busey charged with sex offenses over incidents at horror convention: Police

The alleged incidents occurred at Monster-Mania in New Jersey, police said.

August 21, 2022, 7:00 PM

Actor Gary Busey faces several sex offense charges in connection with incidents during a horror fan convention in New Jersey this month, according to police and media reports.

Police responded to a Doubletree Hotel near Philadelphia that was hosting Monster-Mania Con "for the report of a sex offense," the Cherry Hill Police Department said in a statement Saturday.

Busey, 78, known for his roles in the films "The Buddy Holly Story" and "Point Break," was a featured celebrity at the convention, held from Aug. 12 to 14.

PHOTO: In this Sept. 17, 2019 file photo Gary Busey is seen at The Yard Herald Square in New York City.
In this Sept. 17, 2019 file photo Gary Busey is seen at The Yard Herald Square in New York City.
Walter Mcbride/Getty Images, FILE

On Friday, Cherry Hill detectives charged Busey, of Malibu, California, with two counts of criminal sexual contact in the fourth degree, one count of criminal attempt/criminal sexual contact in the fourth degree, and one count of harassment, police said.

Three women have come forward alleging that Busey groped and touched them inappropriately during a meet and greet, Cherry Hill Police Chief Robert Kempf said.

Court records indicate the alleged offenses occurred on the afternoon of Aug. 13.

No further information was provided by police.

The Associated Press reported that the actor is the suspect identified by police.

ABC News has left messages with the Cherry Hill Police Department seeking further details.

The investigation is ongoing. Police urged anyone with additional information to contact the department.

Police have had no contact with legal representatives for the actor, Kempf said, but did speak with Busey following the initial report while he was still in Cherry Hill.

Reps of Busey's did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

A law firm representing Monster-Mania said in a statement to ABC News that there was an "alleged incident involving attendees and a celebrity guest" at the Cherry Hill convention.

Immediately following a complaint, "the celebrity guest was removed from the convention and instructed not to return," the firm, Moustakas Nelson, said. "Monster-Mania also encouraged the attendees to contact the police to file a report."

Monster-Mania is assisting authorities in their investigation, the firm said.

"The safety and well-being of all our attendees is of the utmost importance to Monster-Mania, and the company will not tolerate any behavior that could compromise those values," Moustakas Nelson said in its statement.

Busey is scheduled to appear in the Camden Superior Court at the end of the month, Kempf said.

ABC News' Kenneth Moton and Teddy Grant contributed to this report.