Stephen Collins, who played the pastor/dad/voice of reason Eric Camden on 7th Heaven, has admitted to being a child molester. His estranged wife, Faye Grant, recorded the confession during a therapy session in 2012. The two are currently in the middle of a nasty divorce.
According to Grant’s lawyer, secretly recording is legal in California if it’s to gather evidence on a violent felony. Molesting three girls under the age of 14 seems to qualify.
In the recording, you hear Collins confess to exposing himself to a relative of his first wife from New York when she was 11, 12 and 13. “There was one moment of touching where her hand, I put her hand on my penis.” When asked if he was erect at the time, Collins said, “No, I mean, no. Partial, maybe I think.” Yikes, this isn’t looking good.
Collins goes on to admit to also exposing himself to a girl who lived in their neighborhood in LA. He says he apologized to her years later. No word on how that went. Probably pretty badly.
Another girl, also from New York, was between 12 and 13 when he exposed himself to her.
NYPD is now in possession of the tape. Last Wednesday, two detectives from the Special Victims Unit in NY flew to LA to interview Grant.
An NYPD official tells TMZ … there is a current, active investigation. The official says there are “at least 3 victims” and the nature of the investigation is “inappropriate sexual contact with minors.”
Law enforcement sources tell us … one alleged victim in the investigation is the relative of Collins’ first wife, who we’re told first reported the molestation in 2012. One law enforcement source tells us … although decades have passed since the molestation, they believe the case can still be prosecuted because the statute of limitations runs from the date of reporting.
You can listen to the confession below. You can also start wondering whether or not he did this to any of the other young actresses he’s worked with over the years. Like Jessica Biel, for instance.