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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

People: Actor Stephen Collins admits sexual contact with girls

From Wire Reports

Actor Stephen Collins has confessed to inappropriate sexual contact with three girls.

“Forty years ago, I did something terribly wrong that I deeply regret,” the actor told People magazine in a report published Wednesday. “I have been working to atone for it ever since.”

Collins told People he had not had “an impulse to act out in such way” in the past 20 years. He said he had apologized to one of the victims and that she was “extraordinarily gracious.”

An audio recording surfaced in October in which a man whom police believed was Collins confessed to exposing himself to and sexually abusing three underage girls. Police in Los Angeles and New York said they reviewed the recording after receiving information in 2012 that the actor may have molested children years ago.

The L.A. Sheriff’s Department, Los Angeles Police Department and New York police were all examining allegations against the 67-year-old actor. Together, the three agencies were reviewing incidents involving four alleged victims.

John, Furnish to wed over weekend

Elton John and his partner David Furnish plan to tie the knot for a second time, following the legalization of same-sex marriage in Britain.

The singer’s spokesman, Gary Farrow, said Wednesday that the weekend ceremony will be private.

Same-sex couples have been allowed to marry in Britain since March. Previously, gay couples could form civil partnerships, which carried the same legal status as marriage but without the title.

Rules allowing couples in civil partnerships to convert their status to marriage came into effect last week. The change simply requires a bit of paperwork, but couples may hold ceremonies if they wish.

John and Furnish were among the first couples in Britain to seal a civil partnership when it was introduced in 2005. They have two children, Zachary and Elijah.

The birthday bunch

Rock singer-musician Keith Richards is 71. Movie producer-director Steven Spielberg is 68. Movie director Gillian Armstrong is 64. Actor Ray Liotta is 59. Actor Brad Pitt is 51. Professional wrestler-turned-actor “Stone Cold” Steve Austin is 50. Actor Shawn Christian is 49. Actress Rachel Griffiths is 46. Country singer Randy Houser is 38. Actress Katie Holmes is 36. Singer Christina Aguilera is 34. Actress Isabella Cramp (TV: “The Neighbors”) is 10.