NEW YORK — NFL Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor has been charged with raping a 16-year-old girl in New York.
The former New York Giants linebacker was arrested early Thursday at a Holiday Inn in Montebello. Police say the girl was a runaway who was forced into prostitution by Rasheed Davis, a 36-year-old man she met a few weeks ago who offered her a place to stay.
Davis, who is also in custody, allegedly beat the victim early Thursday and drove her to the hotel to have sex with Taylor. When she refused, Davis handed her over to Taylor, who sexually assaulted her, police said. Taylor alleged paid her $300, which she turned over to Davis.
The former NFL star was charged with third-degree rape and patronizing a prostitute in the third degree. His attorney has denied the allegations, calling Taylor a "loving family man."
"My client did not have sex with anybody," lawyer Arthur Aidala told the Associated Press. "Lawrence Taylor did not rape anybody."
Taylor, 51, has battled substance abuse problems and faced several legal issues in the past.
The famous athlete, who was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1999, appeared on ABC's Dancing With the Stars last year.
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