Actor Faces Sexual Contact Charge

James Barbour Pleads Not Guilty To Charges That He Had Sexual Contact With Girl, 15

Dec. 6, 2006 | by Ellen Crean

(AP)  A prominent Broadway actor known for playing the beast in Disney's family-friendly "Beauty and the Beast" pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges that he had sexual contact several times with a 15-year-old girl — including once in his dressing room.

James Barbour, 40, was charged with five counts of criminal sex acts and sexual abuse against the teen back in 2001. She came forward earlier this year before the five-year statute of limitations expired.

Assistant District Attorney Maxine Rosenthal, speaking at the hearing, said prosecutors were aware of a second case where Barbour allegedly had sexual contact with another underage girl, in California.

Defense attorney David Smith said there was nothing new about any of the charges.

"These are the very same allegations he was aware of several months ago," said Smith. "... We were aware of the second allegation as well. That occurred over seven years ago."

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According to prosecutors, Barbour was starring in the musical "Jane Eyre" in 2001 when the girl's high school drama teacher arranged for the girl and her parents to see the show. The girl came backstage by herself after the show, and the actor began sexually touching her, prosecutors said.

There was allegedly another incident with the same girl during a dinner at an Eighth Avenue restaurant, and a third in his apartment on the Upper West Side, authorities said.

Because the incident with the second girl happened in California, no additional charges can be brought in the borough, Rosenthal said.

The girl's identity and hometown in the New York case was withheld. Barbour, who lives in California, put up $10,000 cash bail and was released on Wednesday. He was ordered to surrender his passport, and to return for a Dec. 20 court date.

His lawyer, in arguing for lower bail, noted that Barbour had no criminal history and that the girl made no claims of sexual intercourse.

Barbour's other Broadway credits include appearances in "Carousel" and "Urinetown."

Rosenthal also said there were tapes of Barbour speaking with the alleged 15-year-old victim about the case. "He himself refers to it as unethical," said Rosenthal, who provided the defense with a transcript of the conversation.

By Samuel Maull
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