A promoter of a horror film convention says it is assisting authorities over charges against actor Gary Busey with alleged sexual offenses at an event in New Jersey earlier this month.
Busey, 78, was charged Friday with two counts of criminal sexual contact in the fourth degree, one count of attempted criminal sexual contact and one count of harassment after alleged acts of August 12-14 at the Monster-Mania convention at the Doubletree. Hotel in the Philadelphia suburb of Cherry Hill, police said Saturday.
Monster-Mania Convention said in a Facebook post that after attendees complained, an unspecified “famous guest was removed from the convention and ordered not to return.”
“Monster-Mania also encouraged those in attendance to contact the police to make a report,” the company said, adding that behavior that endangered the safety and well-being of those attending would not be tolerated.
“Monster-Mania will continue to assist the authorities in every possible way,” it said.
“It was about contact. It was about touching,” Lieutenant Robert Scheunemann told me The Philadelphia Inquirer of the many complaints the police had received about Busey’s behavior.
Busey, who lives in Malibu, California, was scheduled to be a featured guest for all three days of the event.
Police did not immediately respond to a message asking for details. It was also not clear whether Busey has an attorney to comment on the charges, and a representative did not immediately return a message on Saturday seeking comment.
Busey is widely known as an actor, largely in supporting roles, although he came to prominence and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor for playing the title role in the 1978 film. The Buddy Holly Story.