Stephen Collins (7th Heaven) accused of child molestation

[Anonymous]

Two cable television networks say they will not broadcast scheduled reruns of veteran TV actor Stephen Collins's beloved family series 7th Heaven, after details of molestation allegations against Collins were reported by celebrity website TMZ



The networks, UP TV and TV Guide, announced the cancellations Tuesday.



New York police confirmed they have an open investigation into allegations the actor molested a teenage girl in the early 1970s.



New York Police Department spokesman Stephen David said the complaint was filed in 2012, accusing Collins of forcing a then 14-year-old girl to commit a lewd act in the actor's Manhattan apartment in 1972. David says the case remains open and is being handled by Special Victims Division detectives, but no charges have been filed.



Prosecutors will make a determination about whether any charges should be pursued.



Collins's lawyer, Mark Vincent Kaplan, and talent agent, Mark Teitelbaum, did not return messages seeking comment Tuesday.



Collins is best known for his role in the wholesome family drama 7th Heaven, where he played a pastor and father of seven children. The WB show, which ran from 1996 to 2007, launched the career of actress Jessica Biel, who played Collins's eldest daughter.



Hollywood trade publications reported Tuesday that amid news of the investigation, Collins has lost a role in the film Ted 2 and resigned his position from the acting guild SAG-AFTRA.



Pamela Greenwalt, a spokeswoman for SAG-AFTRA, declined comment on Collins's departure from its national board. The actor's name had been removed from lists of current board membership by Tuesday afternoon.



Ex-wife reported abuse to police



The actor's estranged wife, Faye Grant, wrote in a sworn court declaration in Los Angeles last year that her husband had disclosed he molested at least three young girls.



Grant wrote in the November 2012 declaration in the couple's divorce case that she reported abuse to Los Angeles police, who said they are not actively investigating the actor, but could not offer details on any previous investigations. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office said it did not have records of a case being presented to prosecutors.



"Stephen admitted that he has engaged in a long-term pattern of sexually abusing minor children, including sexually molesting three young girls over a decade ago," Grant wrote in the sworn declaration, which was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court in November.



In March, Kaplan declined to discuss specifics about the claims, saying his response was included in court filings that described the accusations as an effort to obtain a more favourable settlement of the couple's divorce. The filings do not include a denial of the molestation allegations, but attack Grant's use of them as "an attempt to extort concessions in settlement" from Collins.



The report to New York police was made six months after Collins filed to divorce Grant. The couple married in 1985.



http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/stephen-collins-7th-heaven-actor-accused-of-child-molestation-1.2791924">http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/stephen-co ... -1.2791924">http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/stephen-collins-7th-heaven-actor-accused-of-child-molestation-1.2791924

[Anonymous]

Two cable television networks say they will not broadcast scheduled reruns of veteran TV actor Stephen Collins's beloved family series 7th Heaven, after details of molestation allegations against Collins were reported by celebrity website TMZ



The networks, UP TV and TV Guide, announced the cancellations Tuesday.



New York police confirmed they have an open investigation into allegations the actor molested a teenage girl in the early 1970s.



New York Police Department spokesman Stephen David said the complaint was filed in 2012, accusing Collins of forcing a then 14-year-old girl to commit a lewd act in the actor's Manhattan apartment in 1972. David says the case remains open and is being handled by Special Victims Division detectives, but no charges have been filed.



Prosecutors will make a determination about whether any charges should be pursued.



Collins's lawyer, Mark Vincent Kaplan, and talent agent, Mark Teitelbaum, did not return messages seeking comment Tuesday.



Collins is best known for his role in the wholesome family drama 7th Heaven, where he played a pastor and father of seven children. The WB show, which ran from 1996 to 2007, launched the career of actress Jessica Biel, who played Collins's eldest daughter.



Hollywood trade publications reported Tuesday that amid news of the investigation, Collins has lost a role in the film Ted 2 and resigned his position from the acting guild SAG-AFTRA.



Pamela Greenwalt, a spokeswoman for SAG-AFTRA, declined comment on Collins's departure from its national board. The actor's name had been removed from lists of current board membership by Tuesday afternoon.



Ex-wife reported abuse to police



The actor's estranged wife, Faye Grant, wrote in a sworn court declaration in Los Angeles last year that her husband had disclosed he molested at least three young girls.



Grant wrote in the November 2012 declaration in the couple's divorce case that she reported abuse to Los Angeles police, who said they are not actively investigating the actor, but could not offer details on any previous investigations. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office said it did not have records of a case being presented to prosecutors.



"Stephen admitted that he has engaged in a long-term pattern of sexually abusing minor children, including sexually molesting three young girls over a decade ago," Grant wrote in the sworn declaration, which was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court in November.



In March, Kaplan declined to discuss specifics about the claims, saying his response was included in court filings that described the accusations as an effort to obtain a more favourable settlement of the couple's divorce. The filings do not include a denial of the molestation allegations, but attack Grant's use of them as "an attempt to extort concessions in settlement" from Collins.



The report to New York police was made six months after Collins filed to divorce Grant. The couple married in 1985.



http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/stephen-collins-7th-heaven-actor-accused-of-child-molestation-1.2791924">http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/stephen-co ... -1.2791924">http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/stephen-collins-7th-heaven-actor-accused-of-child-molestation-1.2791924

I used to watch that show too.

 ac_wot