Ex-Giants Linebacker Cops Plea in New York State Sex Charge

 No jail time for former Linebacker, but he must register as a sex offender

 By Alicia Cruz

The Black Urban Times

Pro Football Hall of Famer, Lawrence Taylor, has pleaded guilty to sex charges lodged against him last year after a 16-year-old girl told New York police she was forced to prostitute by her Bronx pimp and forced to have sex with Taylor at a Holiday Inn Hotel in Montebello, New York.

Initially, Taylor vehemently denied the allegations, but in court Thursday, the 51-year-old Virginia native pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor sex charges, which will require him to spend six years on probation and register as a sex offender, but he will not serve any time in jail, The Associated Press reported. Taylor, who was initially charged with a class-E felony rape charge, pleaded guilty to sexual misconduct and patronizing a prostitute.

Taylor maintained that the young girl told him she was 19-years-old and he believed her. The victim told investigators that Taylor paid her $300 for the sexual encounter and she later turned it over to her pimp, Rasheed Davis. She also told investigators that she engaged in other acts of prostitution against her will. Davis, 36, was also charged in the incident, but has pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking charges.

Taylor's current wife (his third), Lynette Taylor was quoted by tmz.com as having said, "  These accusations are all bull--it and a set-up."
Lynette Taylor said the timing of the accusations was "peculiar," as they came days after an A&E documentary that featured her husband.
 
Controversy has swirled about Taylor during and after his illustrious NFL career, which began
following his college days at the University of North Carolina from 1978–1981.

Taylor, born Lawrence Julius Taylor, is said to have been addicted to cocaine from as early as his second year in the NFL. League officials were forced to suspend Taylor in 1987 after he tested positive for cocaine. He was suspended for 30 days in 1988 after failing a second drug test. Taylor then gave up his drinking and drugging as a third positive urinalysis would have ended his career. For five years, the two-time Super Bowl Champion winner remained drug free, but it would not last long.

Taylor announced his retirement from the gridiron in 1994 saying, "  I think it's time for me to retire. I've done everything I can do. I've been to Super Bowls. I've been to playoffs. I've done things that other people haven't been able to do in this game before. After 13 years, it's time for me to go."

After his retirement, the 1990s saw Taylor in handcuffs for everything from drug charges to non-payment of child support, leaving the scene of a one-car accident with his Lexus and tax evasion. In 1997 he pleaded guilty to filing a false tax return during the early 1990s, and in 2000. That plea led to a three month house arrest, five years of probation, and 500 hours of community service.

For at least 10 years after his last arrest, Taylor's life remained out of the media spotlight and it looked as if he gotten his life together. Then in November 2009, he was arrested in Miami-Dade County, Florida for leaving the scene of an accident where he struck another vehicle with his Cadillac Escalade. That was the second time Taylor was involved in a car accident where he left the scene. Six months later, he was arrested and later indicted on the sex charges involving the 16-year-old female.

Taylor, who was drafted by the New York Giants as the second overall selection in the 1981 draft, played his entire NFL career as a linebacker. Today, he is still ranked as one of the greatest players in the history of the NFL, and noted as one of the top defensive players in NFL history by former coaches, members of the media and fellow players. He ended his career with 1,088 tackles, 132.5 sacks, nine interceptions, 134 return yards, two touchdowns, 33 forced fumbles, 11 fumble recoveries, and 34 fumble return yards.