'7th Heaven' dad Stephen Collins investigated for child molestation

NEW YORK, Oct. 7 (UPI) -- Stephen Collins is being investigated for child molestation.

The 67-year-old actor reportedly confessed to exposing himself to and molesting at least three underage girls on a tape obtained by TMZ. Estranged wife Faye Grant is said to have secretly recorded the conversation in the couple's therapy session after her lawyer advised it is legal to do so in California.

Collins admitted to molesting a relative of first wife Marjorie Weinman "a couple times" while she was between the ages of 11 and 13. He exposed himself to the girl with a "partial, maybe" erection, and also put her hand on his penis. The actor acknowledged two other victims, including the niece of a neighbor whom he said he "made amends" to "12 or 15 years ago."

The New York Police Department is in possession of the tape, and two detectives from the Special Victims Unit flew to Los Angeles to interview Grant about the recording and other potential witnesses last week. Weinman's relative first reported the molestation in 2012, and Collins can likely still be prosecuted since the statute of limitations begins from the date of reporting.

Collins is best known for his role as father and pastor Eric Camden on WB series 7th Heaven. The actor was married to Marjorie Weinman from 1970 to 1978, and married actress Faye Grant in April 1985. Grant filed for divorce in May 2012; the estranged couple have a 25-year-old daughter named Kate.