ESPN.com reports that Lawrence Taylor was given the lowest sex offender status stemming from his arrest for having sex with a 16-year-0ld girl in 2010. His name will not appear on an online sex offender registry list after he was given Level 1 status in court on Tuesday.
Taylor, who was not present at the hearing, pleaded guilty in January to two counts, sexual misconduct and soliciting a prostitute in the third degree. Last month he was sentenced to six years’ probation in his home state of Florida. As a Level 1 offender he will not have his picture in an online database, but Kelly said that given the notoriety of the case, in effect there was very little difference between Level 1 and Level 2 for Taylor.
There are three levels of sex offenders: Level 1 offenders are characterized as being a low risk to the public, Level 2 are medium risk and Level 3 are high risk. People registered as the latter two have their names made available to the public, and authorities can go so far as to alert “vulnerable populations,” such as those at a school, nursing home or day care agency, that an offender is living in their neighborhood.
Level 1 offenders must register for 20 years, while the other two levels of offenders must register for the rest of their lives.
Aidala said knowing that he is the lowest level will be a “relief” for Taylor, and that it may make a difference when it comes to sponsorship opportunities in the future. He said Taylor will be a headline guest at a Montclair, N.J., charity golf tournament on June 20, to benefit disabled children.
Well good for you, L.T.! I would write something like, “Well maybe he’ll learn from this situation and stay out of trouble,” but he’s Lawrence freaking Taylor. He’s going to get caught doing something stupid but let’s just hope this is the last and only time the man shows up in the headlines for allegedly raping someone.