Stephen Collins, the actor best known for his role as a reverend and father in the television show ‘7th Heaven’, has admitted to sexually abusing three female minors.

Stephen Collins, the actor best known for his role as a reverend and father in the television show ‘7th Heaven’, has admitted to sexually abusing three female minors.

In a statement given to People magazine, Collins reveals that there were 5 separate occurrences between 1973 and 1994.

The earliest involved him exposing himself to one young girl on 2 occasions.

That same female was targeted a 3rd time inside Collins’ home.

According to the actor, the two were watching television when he moved her hand so it was touching him in an inappropriate way.

The remaining incidents again involved indecent exposure and took place in 1982 and 1994.

Collins says that he has neither done such things, nor has he felt an impulse to, in the 20 years since.

His history of sexually abusing minors was brought to the public’s attention by TMZ, which released a voice recording of him admitting to it.

That confession was secretly taped by his wife while the two were participating in a therapy session in 2012.

The documentation was subsequently handed over to police in both New York City and Los Angeles, and authorities for the latter said previously they were unable to verify the evidence they received in 2012. An allegation has since been filed by one of the victims, and the LA County Sheriff’s Department is now investigating.