Lawrence Taylor Pleads Innocent in Teen Rape Case

DWTS star/NFL great arraigned today on charges stemming from May arrest

By Josh Grossberg Jul 13, 2010 5:32 PMTags
Lawrence Taylor, Lynette Taylor AP Photo/Richard Drew

Don't think Lawrence Taylor will be cha-chaing his way out of this anytime soon.

The NFL Hall of Famer and former Dancing With the Stars hoofer pleaded not guilty today in an upstate New York courtroom to a series of charges stemming from allegations he raped an underage prostitute at a hotel back in May.

The 51-year-old Taylor was arraigned on felony charges of third-degree rape and third-degree criminal sexual act, and misdemeanor counts of third-degree sexual abuse, endangering the welfare of a child and third-degree patronizing a prostitute.

"Must be a slow news day," he said to the gathering of press, and telling one reporter to "grow up" as he shouted questions at Taylor.

Taylor's attorney, Arthur Aidala, told reporters that he will be mounting a vigorous defense on behalf of his client.

"The case will now proceed under normal scheduling and normal guidelines. We will submit motions asking D.A. to turn over whatever evidence they have. We will have a chance to challenge that evidence," said the legal eagle. "Mr. Taylor is very much looking forward to this process going forward, to putting this behind him and to living his life with his wife and child...his family and his very supportive friends.

"He's doing the best he can under the circumstances," added Aidala. "The track we're going on is we are headed in the direction of a trial."

Taylor got into this mess on May 6, when cops took him into custody as part of an investigation into a rape that allegedly occurred in the Holiday Inn in Montebello, N.Y.

Per the indictment handed down in June, the female victim was a 16-year-old runaway whom Taylor allegedly paid $300. She was quoted in court docs as saying Taylor "verbally threatened and physically assaulted her." She wound up in an emergency room.

Another man, Rasheed Davis, a 36-year-old parolee identified as the girl's pimp, was also arrested and charged with unlawful imprisonment, assault and endangering the welfare of a child.

The former DWTS contestant remains free on a $75,000 bond. Should he be convicted, Taylor could face up to four years in prison.

A hearing in Taylor's case has been set for Aug. 24.

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