#StephenCollins Finally Confesses To Sexually Abusing Three Underage Girls

In a lengthy statement, Stephen Collins opened up to People about his child molestation scandal and confessed to sexually abusing three underage girls. The actor admitted to abusing the girls in an audio released earlier this year, but he has remained tight-lipped about it until now.

Collins wrote:

“Forty years ago, I did something terribly wrong that I deeply regret. I have been working to atone for it ever since. I’ve decided to address these issues publicly because two months ago, various news organizations published a recording made by my then-wife, #FayeGrant, during a confidential marriage therapy session in January, 2012. This session was recorded without the therapist’s or my knowledge or consent.”

“On the recording, I described events that took place 20, 32, and 40 years ago. The publication of the recording has resulted in assumptions and innuendos about what I did that go far beyond what actually occurred. As difficult as this is, I want people to know the truth.”

Collins admitted to exposing himself twice to a girl in 1973, and explained another incident with the same girl.

"When the girl and I were watching TV alone, I moved her hand in such a way that caused her to touch me inappropriately," he wrote. "It was a completely impulsive act, and it's haunted me ever since to think of what I put her through."

The actor said he has “not had an impulse to act out in any such way” in the last 20 years. He also said he “agonized” over whether he should directly apologize to his victims.

"I did have an opportunity to do so with one of the women, 15 years later," he continued. "I apologized and she was extraordinarily gracious. But after I learned in the course of my treatment that my being direct about such matters could actually make things worse for them by opening old wounds, I have not approached the other two women, one of whom is now in her 50s and the other in her 30s."

Collins’ full statement will appear in the new issue of People, on newsstands Friday. He will also sit for an interview with #KatieCouric, which will stream on Yahoo! and air on “20/20″ on Friday.