Former NFL Giants Linebacker Arrested For Failing To Register As Sex Offender

Football legend Lawrence Taylor has been arrested for failing to register as a sex offender, according to reports.

On Thursday, the 62-year-old former New York Giants linebacker surrendered himself to Pembroke Pines police, according to ESPN. A warrant had been issued for Taylor’s arrest after he failed to notify the proper authorities of a change of address, something he’s required to do as a registered sex offender.

Taylor was booked into the Broward County jail and released shortly after posting a $500 bail.

The NFL Hall of Famer was arrested in 2010 after the uncle of an underage girl whom Taylor had allegedly paid for sex notified the New York Police Department of his behavior, according to Daily Press. Taylor pleaded not guilty to charges of third-degree rape, patronizing a prostitute, sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child.

In 2011, Taylor cut a deal and pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors: sexual misconduct and patronizing a prostitute. In court, he claimed the 16 year-old girl “told me she was 19.”

Taylor served no jail time for the misdemeanors but was required to register as a sex offender.

Attorney Arthur Aidala, who represented Taylor in the original case, defended his client after Thursday’s arrest, claiming Taylor changed his residence on the advice of local law enforcement.

“Sadly, he is in the middle of a divorce, and his local police department suggested it would be best if he slept at a nearby hotel,” said Aidala, according to ESPN. “Mr. Taylor was constantly a resident of the marital home where he was registered, but on advice of local law enforcement, he was sleeping outside the home.”

Aidala added that he and Taylor are “confident that this will be resolved favorably for Lawrence at the first court hearing.”

Taylor, who helped the N.Y. Giants win the Super Bowl championships in 1986 and 1990, struggled with substance abuse during his career and has had numerous run-ins with the law, according to Sports Illustrated. He was arrested in 2016 for driving under the influence after crashing his car into a parked police vehicle on the Florida Turnpike.

Taylor pleaded guilty to that charge in 2017 and was sentenced to 12 months probation. A judge also issued a nine-month revocation of his driver’s license, 75 hours of community service, $1,500 in fees and mandatory DUI school. After getting his license back, Taylor also had to comply with an ignition interlock device, an instrument that measures the level of alcohol detected on a driver’s breath before allowing them to start their vehicle.

A date for a court hearing has yet to be scheduled in the matter of the recent charges.