Actor Gary Busey was set to headline a “Monster Mania” expo event in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, when he was accused of touching several attendees inappropriately during a photoshoot. While Busey has denied the allegations, according to a police affidavit, he did ask police to apologize to the victims and noted that “sometimes it is possible to accidentally touch someone in a specific body part.”

Busey has been charged with two counts of criminal sexual contact and one count of attempted criminal sexual contact (all fourth-degree indictable offenses), as well as a disorderly persons offense of harassment. He was released and reportedly left New Jersey and returned to his home in Malibu, California.

Dealing With a New Jersey Criminal Matter From Out of State

Despite leaving New Jersey, presumably with the court's permission, Busey, as with other out-of-state criminal defendants, is still subject to New Jersey law and the jurisdiction of the New Jersey superior court. This is true in any case where an out-of-state defendant is arrested in New Jersey; if the defendant fails to appear for required hearings or for trial, the court may issue a bench warrant, and the defendant can be extradited from their home state or any other state where they can be found. The defendant will then be responsible for the costs of the extradition and may also face federal liability under the Fugitive Felon Act.

The Importance of Having a New Jersey Lawyer

If you live outside of New Jersey and find yourself charged with a crime in the state (whether it's a sex-related crime or not), it is vitally important that you pay attention to your court dates and return to New Jersey when required to appear in court for hearings and, if necessary, trial. Because most cases involve more than one court appearance, this could mean having to come back to New Jersey more than once before your case is tried or disposed of. In many cases, however, and with the court's permission, your attorney can appear on your behalf without you having to be physically present in court.

In addition, retaining an experienced and knowledgeable attorney such as Joseph D. Lento will allow you to take advantage of his many years of representing criminal defendants in New Jersey. He and his team at the Lento Law Firm can help you navigate the New Jersey criminal justice system and will advise you when it's necessary or beneficial for you to return to New Jersey for court appearances or to meet with prosecutors.

Attorney Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm Can Help

Attorney Joseph D. Lento and his expert team at the Lento Law Firm have years of experience representing in- and out-of-state criminal defendants in New Jersey and can help you if you are an out-of-state resident charged with a crime here. Criminal charges are a serious matter no matter what level they are – disorderly persons offenses or the more serious indictable offenses – and the New Jersey criminal court process is a complicated one that you should not try to navigate alone, especially from out of state. Contact Attorney Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm today at 888.545.3686 or via our contact form to discuss your case and learn how we can help.