Lawrence Taylor Indicted on Rape Charges!!!

Lawrence Taylor's legacy crumbled further on Wednesday when the Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker was indicted by a Rockland County (N.Y.) grand jury on six charges including rape, criminal sexual conduct and sexual abuse.

The indictment follows his May 6 arrest at a Holiday Inn, in Montebello, N.Y., just before 4 a.m. Prosecutors say he paid a 16-year-old girl $300 to have sex with him.

The former New York Giants legend also was indicted on charges of endangering the welfare of a child and patronizing a prostitute. The alleged victim told investigators that Taylor verbally threatened her and physically assaulted her after she was brought to the hotel room by a pimp, who was later arrested by New York City police.

Taylor has denied the charges. His attorney, Arthur L. Aidala, said Taylor denied having sex with the girl, who was reported missing from her home in the Bronx in March.

If convicted, Taylor faces a maximum sentence of four years on a charge of third-degree rape, a felony.

Taylor was charged in Ramapo Town Court and the indictment now transfers the case to Rockland County. The 10-time Pro Bowler and the NFL's MVP in 1986 and Defensive Player of the Year in 1981, 1982 and 1986 is scheduled to appear in court on July 13 to address the charges and enter a plea.

According to Rockland County district attorney Thomas Zugibe, the 16-year-old -- who has been referred to as "Victim-1" in the criminal complaint -- told investigators that she had been verbally threatened and physically assaulted by a pimp who drove her 26 miles to the hotel where Taylor was waiting.

"One of the most effective ways to target prostitution is to go after the johns," Zugibe said. "This indictment underscores our serious commitment to prosecuting those defendants who create a market for the region's growing sex trade."

Aidala, Taylor's attorney, stood by his client's innocence on Wednesday.

"Mr. Taylor and his legal team made a strategic decision not to present any evidence to the grand jury, including him testifying or any witnesses in his defense," Aidala said.

Taylor's longtime business manager, Mark Lepselter, told the Associated Press they were looking forward to the legal process "and Lawrence being able to move forward with his life."

Already, Taylor's business interests are suffering as a result of his arrest -- the weight-loss company NutriSystem Inc. dropped Taylor on Friday, citing his legal problems.

The accused pimp, Rasheed Davis, has been charged in federal court with sex trafficking.

According to the federal criminal complaint, authorities said the 16-year-old did not know whom she was meeting at the hotel room. The girl sent text messages to her uncle saying she was in trouble, police said. He called the NYPD, who arrested the suspected pimp once he returned to the Bronx with the teenager. The girl provided information about the hotel.

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