The New York Police Department has reportedly launched a criminal investigation after Stephen Collins allegedly admitted to molesting and/or exposing himself to a number of underage girls decades ago. According to TMZ the actor, who starred in hit series 7th Heaven, told his estranged wife Faye Grant about the incidents during a therapy session back in 2012. The website reports that Grant recorded the session and was advised to do so by her lawyer who told her it was legal in California to secretly record a conversation  in order to gather evidence that the other person had committed a violent felony (molesting a child under the age of 14 qualifies). In the recording, obtained by TMZ, a man deemed to be Collins can be heard referring to a number of incidents involving girls aged between 11 and 13. He is heard saying: “There was one instance, where for there was one moment of touching where her hand, I put her hand on my penis.” During the session Grant questioned her husband, whom she is divorcing, about the other victims. He said that he apologised to one of them. An NYPD official told the online publication that there is an active investigation involving “at least three victims” and that it concerns “inappropriate sexual contact with minors.”