Kahn
May 6th, 2010, 04:46 PM
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.
No drugs were found in the room but police reports stated there was a bottle of alcohol.
Police officials also 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."
Taylor posted bail and left with his attorney without answering any questions.
Judge Arnold P. Etelson granted a temporary order of protection that means Taylor cannot have anything to do with the accuser for six months. Taylor had been in town for business and to play golf at the Spook Rock Golf Course.
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.
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.
Rest of the story is here: Lawrence Taylor (http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/news/story?id=5167613)
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.
No drugs were found in the room but police reports stated there was a bottle of alcohol.
Police officials also 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."
Taylor posted bail and left with his attorney without answering any questions.
Judge Arnold P. Etelson granted a temporary order of protection that means Taylor cannot have anything to do with the accuser for six months. Taylor had been in town for business and to play golf at the Spook Rock Golf Course.
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.
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.
Rest of the story is here: Lawrence Taylor (http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/news/story?id=5167613)