NEW YORK – Stephen Collins, who played the beloved father and pastor on the family-friendly series "7th Heaven," has reportedly been caught on tape admitting he molested three young girls.
"There is a formal complaint on file and the incident is being investigated by the Manhattan Special Victims Squad," a New York law enforcement source told FOX411. Collins owned an apartment on New York City's Upper East Side in the 1990s. The property was sold in 1997.
In a tape posted on TMZ, a man who the site claims is Collins is heard telling his therapist and wife about the incidents. TMZ reports Collins’ wife, Faye Grant, secretly recorded the tape to use in their divorce proceedings.
"I woke up today to learn that an extremely private recording I handed over to the authorities in 2012 per their request in connection with a criminal investigation was recently disseminated to the press," Grant told E! News. "I had no involvement whatsoever with the release of the tape to the media."
The man on the tape is heard recalling a time when he exposed himself to a 10-year-old girl.
“…There was one instance, where… there was one moment of touching,” the man says.
MORE: Click here to listen to the disturbing tape
The man then admits that he had similar incidents with two other young girls, including one who was “The niece of someone that lived across the way.”
He said he saw that woman about 15 years ago and tried to make amends for his actions.
Collins' agent declined FOX411's request for comment.
Collins was reportedly set to appear in the upcoming flick "Ted 2," but Entertainment Weekly reports he was fired Tuesday amid the controversy. The Screen Actor's Guild has also accepted his resignation for their board, according to TMZ.
Aside from his leading role in “7th Heaven,” Collins has appeared on “Revolution” and “The Fosters.” He has also had guest spots on “Scandal,” “The Office” and a bunch of other big-name shows.
“7th Heaven” originally ran 1996 to 2007. The show still lives on in syndication. In addition to Collins, it starred celebs like Jessica Biel, Catherine Hicks and Beverley Mitchell.
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