Thursday, May 6, 2010

Lawrence Taylor arrested for rape, gets worse shes a minor


SUFFERN, N.Y. -- Pro Football Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor has been arraigned on rape and prostitution charges in an assault on a 16-year-old runaway who police said was brought to his New York hotel room against her will.

A Rockland County judge set bail at $75,000.

Taylor, who has a history of drug abuse and runs-in with the law, was charged with third-degree rape, a felony charge that carries a term of up to four years in prison. Taylor was also charged with third-degree patronizing of a prostitute, a misdemeanor charge that carries a term of up to one year in prison.

Police officials said at a news conference Thursday that Taylor was "cooperative" when he was taken into custody and questioned.

An attorney for Taylor, Kenneth Gribetz, said he was "confident [Taylor's] innocence will be proven."

Another of Taylor's attorneys, Arthur Aidala, said he is "cautiously optimistic" that Taylor will be able to post bail Thursday.

A second man was arrested in the case, New York City police said. Rasheed Davis, a 36-year-old parolee, was arrested on charges of unlawful imprisonment, assault and endangering the welfare of a child.

Taylor's Struggles Off The Field
1986: Admits in public statement that he has received help for substance abuse ... enters six-week drug-rehab program in Houston, stays one week.

1988: Given 30-day four-game suspension for second violation of NFL's drug-abuse policy for cocaine use.

1989: Fails breath test when police find him asleep behind the wheel of his Jeep beside the Garden State Parkway in N.J. ... acquitted in Saddle Brook, N.J., of drunken driving charges ... tries to choke a reporter after a Giants practice.

1996: One of 15 arrested in Myrtle Beach, S.C., for allegedly trying to buy $100 worth of crack from undercover police while in town for a celebrity golf tourney. Charges dropped when LT agrees to 60 hours of public service.

1997: Pleaded guilty to filing false 1990 income-tax return and failing to report $48,000 income from the now-defunct LT Sports Club in East Rutherford, N.J.

1998: Arrested in his New Jersey home in a roundup of deadbeat parents. Released after about 10 hours in jail when a friend pays $6,000 in child support and for an outstanding traffic violation ... arrested again, this time in Florida, for allegedly buying $50 in crack from an undercover cop and for possessing drug paraphernalia.

2009: Arrested in Miami for leaving the scene of an accident.

2010: Arrested by Ramapo, N.Y., police, and accused of raping a minor at a hotel in Montebello.

-- Source: New York Daily News

Police said Davis drove the girl, who had been staying with him in the Bronx for a few weeks, to the Holiday Inn Suffern, in Montebello, and told her she had to have sex with Taylor. She said she refused, Taylor sexually assaulted her, then he paid her $300, which she gave to Davis, police said.

Davis "struck the young girl with his fist, kicked her and brought her to the Holiday Inn against her will," NYPD spokesman Paul Browne said.

On the way back from Suffern, the girl sent text messages to her uncle spelling out what had happened, Browne said. The uncle then went to the NYPD, he said.

New York City police alerted Ramapo authorities to what happened. Police then went to Taylor's hotel room and arrested him.

"We're not happy with what took place, but our detectives have made the arrest and processed the scene," St. Lawrence said.

St. Lawrence also said sex with a 16-year-old cannot be consensual in New York state.

The alleged victim was 15 when she ran away from home in the Bronx in March but is 16 now, St. Lawrence said.

Taylor, 51, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1999 and competed in ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" last year. He had a highly publicized struggle with drug addiction and has had multiple legal issues in retirement.

A quick, fierce and athletic linebacker who redefined his position, Taylor anchored the Giants' defense and led New York to Super Bowls titles in 1987 and 1991. He was selected to the NFL's 75th anniversary All-Time Team.

A 10-time Pro Bowler, he was the NFL Most Valuable Player in 1986 and the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1981, 1982 and 1986. He recorded 132.5 sacks, which doesn't include the 9.5 sacks in 1981, when the statistic wasn't official.

In 2001, Taylor was convicted of possessing drug paraphernalia in New Jersey. The conviction stemmed from the September 1998 discovery in a hotel room of a butane torch and other materials commonly used to smoke crack.

In 1996 and 1997, he was arrested in South Carolina and Florida on drug charges. In those cases, he either admitted his guilt or agreed to enter a pretrial intervention program.

In 2000, he drew five years of federal probation for filing false tax returns and for tax evasion. In November, he was charged in Florida with leaving the scene of an accident

Associated Press

1 comment:

  1. I really hope this accusation is not true. LT is known for being one of the greatest defenders in the NFL but this is just crazy. First of all, what are you doing getting a prostitute. Your LT, go to the bar or to the club there are women are all over the place. grab one and call it a day. Secondly why have sex with a girl who is underaged. I know girls nowadays have grown woman bodies but you got to be able to detect that. With all the negativity surrounding Football players off the field in recent weeks they may give LT the hammer if convicted. Like i said i really hope none of this is true. Im sure there will be more news in the days coming.

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