Ann Oldenburg

USA TODAY

Actor Stephen Collins, who has been silent since a flurry of molestation stories about him surfaced in early October, is speaking now.

He has released a lengthy statement to People, admitting that he inappropriately touched one young girl and exposed himself to two others from 1973 to 1994. And he will do a sit-down chat with Katie Couric, for Yahoo and ABC.

"Forty years ago, I did something terribly wrong that I deeply regret," says Collins, 67.

"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, Faye Grant, during a confidential marriage therapy session in January, 2012. This session was recorded without the therapist's or my knowledge or consent."

He goes on to say that 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."

He says he "agonized" over whether to make direct apologies to the women now.

"I did have an opportunity to do so with one of the women, 15 years later. I apologized and she was extraordinarily gracious," says Collins, in a long divorce battle with Grant. "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."

In addition to the People essay, the 7th Heaven actor will sit down with Yahoo Global News anchor Couric for an in-depth interview, which will stream on Yahoo! and air Friday on 20/20 on ABC.