Gary Busey enters plea in chaotic criminal sexual contact hearing: ‘AM I PLEADING GUILTY?’

Article content

Gary Busey has pleaded guilty to criminal sexual contact — but the hearing didn’t come without drama.

The Buddy Holly Story star appeared at a Zoom hearing on Thursday, and pleaded guilty to one count of fourth-degree criminal sexual contact following an incident with a female fan that took place at Monster-Mania Convention in New Jersey in August 2022, which he denied at the time.

There were several instances of miscommunication between Judge Gwendolyn Blue and Busey’s legal team, including early in the proceedings where Busey earns a warning from the judge after he is seen drinking out of a pop can, Entertainment Weekly reported.

“Although we are Zoom, you can’t eat or drink in my courtroom,” the judge told the Point Break actor.

“You’re before a judge, and when you’re before a judge, you act accordingly,” she continued. “No eating and no drinking in my presence.”

The 81-year-old also appeared confused by the judge’s instructions, flip-flopping his answers after Blue noted that Busey was set to plead guilty to a fourth-degree criminal sexual contact.

“Am I pleading guilty?” Busey asked as he looked away from the camera.

“Yes,” the judge responded, to which the actor shot back, “No!” Before a woman’s voice can be heard from his screen instructing him to say “yes.”

Busey then says, “I am? OK, I am.”

Three other counts of criminal sexual contact and an additional count of attempted criminal sexual contact from other accusers were dismissed as the result of a plea agreement.

“He has a hearing aid, and at some points it seems to have not been working. So there were some hearing problems, and his ex-wife was in the room with him,” Busey’s defence attorney, Blair Zwillman, told the publication.

During the proceedings, Zwillman asked the actor to confirm the facts of the charge, which came from a fan identified by the initials AD, who said the actor touched her during a photo op.

“You inappropriately touched the buttocks of an adult female over her clothing,” Zwillman recounted to his client before asking Busey if he understands now that “that was not appropriate” and “wrong.”

“You understand now and you knew then that that was not appropriate, it was wrong, correct?” to which Busey responded, “Yes, very much so. Immediately, yes… Yes, sir, it is the truth.”

RECOMMENDED VIDEO

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Try refreshing your browser, or
tap here to see other videos from our team.

Play Video

The judge later pointed out to Zwillman about “missing” information from the official document, specifically “what (Busey’s) purpose was when he touched her buttocks.”

However, Busey denied that his guilty plea was because he “intended to gratify (himself) by committing that act,” and said, “No, I was looking, my eyes were on the camera lens. I moved my hands up and grazed her buttocks without thinking and without looking.”

Judge Blue argued, “That’s not a factual basis. That’s not a guilty plea.”

Lawyer Zwillman then asked: “Mr. Busey, I’ve advised you, and we agreed earlier that in order to plead guilty, you have to truthfully acknowledge that you did this for your own gratification as opposed to any request by AD, is that correct?”

“I truthfully acknowledge that that happened, yes,” the actor conceded.

The judge then asked, “So this was not an accidental touching. You purposely touched her. Is that correct sir?”

Busey confirmed, “Yeah.”

The Predator 2 star’s sentencing hearing is on Sept. 18.

“He’s glad it’s over, he’s glad the judge was able to do it remotely,” Zwillman told the publication.

“He acknowledged it, four counts were dismissed, and wants to move on with his life.”

Zwillman added that he intends to argue that his client should only have to pay fines and not be sentenced to probation.

“I think he may have been charged with criminal sexual contact because of his status. Hopefully this is not gonna stain an otherwise remarkable acting career.”