Disgraced former grid great Lawrence Taylor yesterday got off with no jail time, copping to lesser charges in the alleged rape of a 16-year-old Bronx runaway — but the lascivious ex-linebacker may still have to register as a sex offender.
Taylor, 51, pleaded guilty to sexual misconduct and patronizing a prostitute after being arrested and accused of paying $300 to have sex with a teenager in a Rockland County hotel last May.
“She told me she was 19,” Taylor told the judge as he entered his guilty plea in a New City court.
He told the judge he now knows the girl was underage.
The fallen ex-Giant answered yes when the judge asked whether he’d paid for the sex.
Taylor is expected to be sentenced to six years’ probation when he goes back to court March 22. He had faced four years in the slammer under the original felony statutory-rape charges.
Prosecutors said the plea was acceptable partly because Taylor helped in investigations into human trafficking after his May 6 arrest.
The NFL Hall of Famer “was of assistance [in] several jurisdictions and with federal authorities,” prosecutor Arthur Ferraro said outside court.
Taylor’s lawyer, Arthur Aidala, said he would argue at the March hearing against Taylor’s having to register as a Level 1, or low-risk, sex offender, as recommended under New York’s Megan’s Law Statute.
If he does have to register, Taylor, who lives in Florida, would be required to check in annually with law enforcement.
Taylor doesn’t think that will be an issue, Aidala said, noting that the former Giant told him, “Well, the [police] captain comes to my house on a regular basis to socialize, so that won’t be a problem.”
“It’s rare that a case of this nature ends so swiftly,” Aidala said after court.
“I was optimistic he would have been cleared had he gone to trial,” the lawyer said. “[But] he didn’t want to put anyone through the stress . . . he did what he thought would be in everyone’s best interest.”
In court, prosecutors said Taylor’s teen victim is back in school.
Aidala said Taylor was “happy to hear she is doing well.”