Following charges against actor Gary Busey involving alleged sexual assaults at an event in New Jersey earlier this month, a horror movie convention promoter claims it is aiding police.
According to police, Busey, 78, was charged Friday with two counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual contact, one count of attempted criminal sexual contact, and one count of harassment in connection with alleged actions August 12-14 at the Monster Mania Convention at the Doubletree Hotel in the Philadelphia suburb of Cherry Hill.
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Monster-Mania Convention said in a Facebook post that after attendees complained, an unspecified “celebrity guest was removed from the convention and instructed not to return.”
“Monster-Mania also encouraged the attendees to contact the police to file a report,” the company said, adding that behavior that compromised the safety and well-being of attendees would not be tolerated. “Monster-Mania will continue to assist the authorities in any and every way possible,” it said.
“It was about contact. It was about touching,” Lt. Robert Scheunemann told The Philadelphia Inquirer of the muliple complaints police had received about Busey’s conduct.
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Busey, who lives in Malibu, California, was set to be a prominent guest for the entire three-day event.
A request seeking more information was not immediately returned by police. It was also unclear whether Busey has a counsel to comment on the charges, and a message left requesting comment Saturday was not immediately returned.
Busey is best known as a character actor, mostly in supporting roles, but he rose to prominence and was nominated for an Oscar for best actor for his performance in the 1978 film The Buddy Holly Story.
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CNN reported that a law company representing Monster Mania said in a statement, “Our client, Monster-Mania LLC, is assisting authorities in their investigation into an alleged incident involving attendees and a celebrity guest at its convention in Cherry Hill, New Jersey last weekend. Immediately upon receiving a complaint from the attendee, the celebrity guest was removed from the convention and instructed not to return. Monster-Mania also encouraged the attendees to contact the police to file a report.”