NEW CITY, N.Y. (AP) -- A judge has agreed to hear claims by retired pro football great Lawrence Taylor that statements he made when he was arrested on a rape charge should be excluded from his trial.
Rockland County prosecutors disclosed Tuesday that the judge granted part of a motion filed by Taylor's attorney. The defense attorney said Taylor's statements were inadmissible because police did not have a warrant when they arrested him.
The former NFL MVP from Williamsburg is accused of having sex with a 16-year-old prostitute in a suburban New York hotel room in May. He allegedly paid the Bronx runaway $300. He has pleaded not guilty to third-degree rape, patronizing a prostitute, sexual abuse and endangering a child.
Prosecutor Arthur Ferraro said Lawrence's statements were taken properly.
The statements were not described. Court papers in a related case say Taylor admitted to sex acts with the girl.
Defense attorney Arthur Aidala's motion alleges that Taylor's arrest violated his rights. It says he was 'alone, sleeping in his hotel room' when police entered without a warrant and without his permission.
Aidala asked the judge to dismiss the indictment, suppress all evidence, suppress any Taylor statements, prohibit the identification of Taylor at trial and prohibit any cross-examination of Taylor about any 'past crimes or bad acts.' It also asks the judge to examine the grand jury minutes because Taylor believes that will show 'the illegality and insufficency of the evidence.'
Court papers in a separate but related case say Taylor admitted to sex acts with the girl but was told she was 19.
Taylor, who led the New York Giants to Super Bowl titles in 1987 and 1991, was arrested May 6 after the girl's uncle contacted New York City police. Officers from Ramapo woke him at a Holiday Inn in Montebello.
The motion says police 'did not have a warrant based on probable cause to either arrest Mr. Taylor or conduct a search and seizure' and that the circumstances did not allow entry without a warrant.
'No lives were in danger, nor was the defendant's escape imminent,' making any seizure of property improper and anything Taylor said to a public official inadmissible, even if he was read his rights, Aidala wrote.
In October, Aidala said the case would probably go to trial, but he would likely listen to any plea agreement offered by the prosecution.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
