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Pleads guilty to sexual misconduct and patronizing a prostitute

BY BOB HOLT

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

No prison time is expected for former New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor after he pleaded guilty at Rockland County Criminal Court to charges of sexual misconduct and patronizing a prostitute — both misdemeanors — in connection with having sex with a 16-year-old prostitute at a Holiday Inn 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 four years in prison. Instead, he is expected to be sentenced to six years probation and will register as a sex offender for at least the duration of his probation, Taylor's attorney, Arthur Aidala said.

Prosecutor Patricia Gunning said the plea deal was acceptable because Taylor had cooperated with investigators. Another prosecutor, Arthur Ferraro, said outside court that Taylor "was of assistance in the field of human trafficking in several jurisdictions and with federal authorities."

Taylor previously turned down a plea deal that would have had him serve 6 months in jail.

According to the Keene Sentinel, Taylor 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 denials and that he had been set up by the girl's alleged pimp, Rasheed Davis.

ESPN New York reports that in New York, ignorance of a person's age is not a defense against statutory rape. The age of consent in New York is 17.

Harry Carson, a former teammate and fellow Hall of Famer, was in the courtroom in support of Taylor. "The whole L.T. persona, to me that's an act," Carson said. "I'm here for Lawrence Taylor. I'm not here for L.T."

Taylor was arrested early in the morning of May 6 at a Holiday Inn in Montebello, N.Y.

Two other members of the New York Giants' 1991 Super Bowl team are behind bars. Mark Ingram Sr., a star receiver, is spending nearly 10 years in federal prison for money laundering, bank fraud and bail jumping. And kick returner Dave Meggett was sentenced last year to 30 years for criminal sexual conduct and burglary.

Taylor led the Giants to two Super Bowl titles, in 1987 and 1991. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1999.

In 2009, he competed in ABC's "Dancing With the Stars." He had also been a spokesman for the NutriSystem weight-loss company, but he was dropped after his arrest.

According to the Washington Post, sentencing is March 22. That same day, state Supreme Court Justice William Kelly will determine what level of sex offender status Taylor will have. Aidala said he will suggest Level 1, which he said would mean checking in once a year with local police.