Lawrence Taylor denies allegations that he raped a 16-year-old girl and patronized prostitution. INSIDE EDITION has the details.
Lawrence Taylor is battling through an army of media, claiming he did not have sex with a 16-year-old girl.
Now we're learning more about how the 51-year-old former Dancing With the Stars contestant ended up in court in handcuffs and shackles, accused of rape and patronizing a prostitute.
He was arrested in a room at a Holiday Inn, 25 miles north of New York City.
The girl was allegedly dropped off at Taylor's room at 1 a.m., where rooms can be had as low as $115 a night. Police say Taylor paid $300 for the encounter with the underage girl. After she left about three hours later, police knocked on Taylor's door. They say he was fast asleep, and when they woke him up and asked him who he was, he said, "I'm Lawrence Taylor."
The teenager reportedly told police she had been beaten and forcibly taken to Taylor's room by 36-year-old Rashid Davis. Police say she was instructed to tell Taylor she was 19.
INSIDE EDITION's Les Trent asked Ramapo Police Chief Christopher St. Lawrence, "Should Taylor have known she was there against her will?"
"Well, she had a swollen eye and I think it was obvious that she had been battered," said St. Lawrence.
After his arrest, Taylor was brought to the Ramapo police department, where he stayed for several hours until that tearful arraignment.
Taylor's wife Lynette is defending Taylor, saying he was "set-up." But she cancelled a scheduled appearance on Larry King Live just minutes before the show was set to air.
King said in his show, "His (Taylor's) wife, Lynette had agreed to appear on this program, and cancelled 25 minutes before we went on."
Taylor has made no secret of his wild lifestyle. He has been arrested for drug possession three times. He has also demonstrated a violent side, exploding with rage during filming of the A&E documentary Fame and Recovery.
INSIDE EDITION's Lisa Guerrero worked with Taylor on the cable show Toughman.
Guererro said, "I've seen him be very arrogant, very rude to other people. He's known as being a bad guy even at charity events. Even at golf tournaments, he cheats on these charity golf tournaments. He's rude to people, he's arrogant—that's part of his schtick, and he's been able to get away with it."
His appearance on Dancing With the Stars last year softened his macho image, and he won praise for his efforts on the dance floor. But he faces up to five years in prison if convicted of rape.
