No Jail Time: Gary Busey Gets 2 Years Probation for Sexual Offense
Gary Busey, 81, was sentenced to two years’ probation for a sexual offense committed at a South Jersey fan convention three years ago, after pleading guilty earlier this year to fourth-degree criminal sexual contact as his defense cited numerous health issues.
Gary Busey just got two years of probation for a groping case that has been hanging around since a 2022 horror convention in New Jersey. He’s 81 now, he pleaded guilty this summer, and the court went with probation after his team leaned hard on his health issues. Not exactly the convention experience anyone signed up for.
The case, in plain English
Busey pleaded guilty in July 2025 to fourth-degree criminal sexual contact tied to a fan photo op at a Cherry Hill, NJ hotel back in 2022. This week, a judge sentenced him to two years of probation. His lawyer had pushed for just a fine, citing early dementia, mobility problems, and other medical issues. The court still went with probation. Busey didn’t address the judge in court.
"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."
What actually happened, according to reports
- 2022: During a horror convention photo shoot in Cherry Hill, NJ, Busey allegedly touched the clothed buttocks of at least two female fans.
- Another accuser said he put his face near her breasts and asked where she got them.
- He was arrested shortly after the incident at the hotel and initially denied the allegations.
- July 2025: Busey pleaded guilty to fourth-degree criminal sexual contact.
- Sentencing: The defense argued his age and health (including early dementia and mobility issues) warranted a fine; the court imposed two years of probation instead.
Context and a bit of inside baseball
This is one of those cases where the defense’s medical file became a key part of the conversation. The guilty plea came first; the probation followed. The health argument didn’t get him off the hook, but it does seem to have shaped the outcome.
Quick career snapshot
Busey is best known for playing Buddy Holly in 1978’s The Buddy Holly Story, which earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Actor. He also popped up in A Star Is Born (1976), D.C. Cab (1983), Silver Bullet (1985), Eye of the Tiger (1986), and Lethal Weapon (1987), among plenty of others.