Taylor pleads guilty, will get probation
Lawrence Taylor and his lawyer Arthur Idala leave the Ramapo Police Department, where Taylor was arraigned on charges of third-degree rape and patronizing a prostitute. (May 6, 2010) Credit: AP
NEW CITY - Giants Hall of Fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor pleaded guilty at Rockland County Criminal Court Thursday to charges of sexual misconduct and patronizing a prostitute - both misdemeanors - and will face no prison time in connection with having sex with a 16-year-old prostitute at an area hotel last May.
Taylor, who was arrested and later indicted on charges of third-degree rape, child endangerment, sexual abuse and patronizing a prostitute, could have faced up to 4 years in prison. Instead, he is expected to be sentenced to 6 years' probation and will register as a sex offender for at least the duration of his probation, Taylor's attorney, Arthur Aidala said. Sentencing, as well as the court's assessment of his sex offender risk level, is scheduled for March 22.
Aidala said he expected Taylor to be registered as a Level 1 sex offender, which means that he will not have to register to the statewide database. The lowest level of offense, Taylor will have to notify local law enforcement of his place of residence on a yearly basis, Aidala said.
"He's not a sexual predator," Aidala said. "There's a sex offender and a predator. He's not a predator."
Prosecutor Patricia Gunning said the plea deal was acceptable because Taylor had cooperated with investigators.
Taylor previously turned down a plea deal that would have had him serve 6 months in jail.
Aidala said Taylor "decided that this was in the best interest of his family and the young woman involved. "
The girl, whose identity is being withheld because she was a minor at the time of the incident, had dropped out of school and run away from her home in the Bronx.
"Quite frankly, I was cautiously optimistic that after a full-blown trial and cross examination, Mr. Taylor would have prevailed," Aidala said after the plea. "He just didn't want to put anyone through the stress and ramifications of a full-blown trial."
Taylor, who responded to most of Judge William Kelly's questions with one-word answers, admitted to inviting the girl to his room and exchanging $300 for sex with a "yes." DNA reports confirmed that Taylor did have sex with the girl, despite his and Aidala's statements to the contrary and that he had been set up by the girl's alleged pimp, Rasheed Davis.
Taylor, however, maintained that he wasn't aware of the girl's age. "She told me she was 19," he said. "I didn't know."
Taylor declined to speak to reporters.
While Taylor has had off-the-field problems Aidala said this was different.
"He's miserable about it," Aidala said.
