Lawrence Taylor, One of the Best Defensive Players in the History of the League, is Charged with Rape in New York

On May 6, 2010 Hall of Fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor was arrested on rape charges. The charges stem from an encounter with a prostitute at a Holiday Inn Taylor was at in New York. The charges include third degree rape and solicitation of prostitution.

Many consider Lawrence Taylor to be one of the best defensive players ever and the best outside linebacker. He won two Super Bowls with the New York Giants. He was also a ten time selection to the Pro Bowl. He also was selected as the league defensive MVP three times and the overall MVP once. He has had brushes with the law in the past. They have mostly involved drug possession though and not anything really violent.

This is a really messed up case with lots of variables to it. There is debate about whether or not Taylor had sex with the alleged victim. Once report has Taylor admitting that he had sex with the girl and other sources, including his attorney, deny this. What is known is that Rasheed Davis was a pimp who pretty much forced a runaway into prostitution. It was arranged for Taylor to be with her for $300 by a third party and he was told the girl was 19. I am sure Taylor would not have slept with her if he knew she was unwilling or that she was 16. The law in New York puts the burden on Taylor though to know the girl's age. Rasheed Davis is being held without bail because it is not known how many girls he had working for him. Davis previously had been in prison for a 1994 manslaughter charge. He apparently strung the girl out on drugs and threatened her if she did not do what he said. The girl contacted her uncle who in turn got police involved.

There are different legal issues here. It appears Taylor is going to pull a Bill and Monica situation were he claims the act was not sex. The reality is that it was. The biggest charge that Taylor is guilty of as usual is being stupid. He is married after all. I don't think he raped the girl. He probably did have sex with her and paid for it. The prostitution is clearly a crime and should be. The problem is that if the girl lied about her age I think that it is a big extreme to penalize him for it when theoretically she could be argued to be guilty if identity theft by claiming an identity ( as a 19 year old) that she actually is not. With all the criminals out there I am not sure he will get jail time and if he does it will be minimal. I am sure they will hit Davis with the hammer of the Gods and they should. I smell a rat though here. It is really funny that after she was with Taylor she all of a sudden got in touch with her uncle. She had been turning tricks for a bit according to reports, but after being with him she calls her uncle. I think she might have saw dollar signs. Why did she not call her uncle earlier? By no means is Taylor a saint, but people do pray on people for money in many cases.

Sources.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37024236?GT1=43001

ESPN Sports Center May 7, 2010