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May 11, 2010

Dancing alums stunned by Lawrence Taylor's arrest

Posted: 10:08 AM ET

by Scott Huver and Reagan Alexander
via people.com

Like a tackle from the blind spot, Lawrence Taylor's arrest for allegedly sleeping with an underage prostitute hit his former Dancing with the Stars cast-mates out of no where.

"It's shocking right now," said fellow Season 8 contestant Melissa Rycroft. "I danced with him. He was my buddy."

"It's not the LT that I knew," Rycroft told PEOPLE at the 17th Annual Race to Erase MS gala in Los Angeles on Friday. "The LT that I knew was very sweet and caring and compassionate and he took care of all of us and I never saw a temper. I never saw him mistreating anybody."

Rycroft said she would like to see information come out that shows LT did nothing illegal with the 16-year-old girl. "I don't know how optimistic I am about that, but I can hope."

Tony Dovolani echoed those comments at the event, calling Taylor, "such a cool guy," and opted not to make any quick judgments adding, "I don't know the details, so I can't make any comments either way. I feel for the both parties because this is not a pleasant situation to be in."

(READ MORE)

Filed under: Crime • Dancing With The Stars • Sports


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Toni Lopez   May 11th, 2010 11:15 am ET

Are you kidding me? How can you even say "Under-Aged Prostitute" in the same sentence? Its prostitute PERIOD!! Is like saying I got my Girl Friend "a little pregnant!" Leave the guy alone. What , is he supposed to get an ID and run a background check on anyone and everyone he sleeps with? I would say it's because he is a very famous and talented ball player but, the way things are going I am thinking we are ALL at risk of this crap. LEAVE THE GUY ALONE!! Again, "Under aged prostitute?" get out of here!!!


Luis B. Rosario   May 11th, 2010 1:34 pm ET

A friend of mine reply to my E-mail.
Luis you are absolutely right about this case. As a woman I
' no respect for men who have any sort of sexual relations with
a fenake under 16 or 17, but this gir was not so innocent and
I believe that she knew what she was doing when she entered
this man's(L .T.) room. He did not rape her in the true definition
of the word "rape" . Like you, I don't condon any type of rape
but in this case, I don't believe that this man " raped" this girl.
He should be punished for soliciting prostitution but not for
rape, especially based on the the age factor. Like you say
he may not known her age. Because he is a celebrity, it all comes
down to money (and publicity).
Luis Note:
Rape as defined in the Penal law in most states:
Forcibly rapes another(forcible intercourse); has sex with a another
knowing that the person is physically or mentally not capable of
consent due to mental impairment, or is physically incapacitated
due to drugs, or knowingly have sex with another who is incapable
of consent due to age) . Rape has three categories: Rape 1st. ,
second and third degree.
A person who offers "sex for sale" is not protected from
the " consent clause" in rape unless the other circumstances
occurred, i.e., force, or the perpetrator knew that the "seller"
was under the legal age limit. The client though, may be charged
with criminal solicitation, or promoting prostitution.


Cajazz76:24:8   May 11th, 2010 5:40 pm ET

@Toni Lopez

Your opinion requires me to say your mind-set is PERVERTED!


Smith in Oregon   May 11th, 2010 6:31 pm ET

If a young girl is beat and forced into prostitution that is not the same as a woman who independently chose that profession.

Early reports have repeatedly stated allegedly by this young girl were that she was repeatedly beat and forced into sexual slavery. She was beat also before being forced into working for LT in his hotel room by her pimp.

Perhaps during LT's sentencing, these dancing alums and all of the celebrates from the various News Media shows that have show cased this athletic for many years can appear and speak on his behalf.

When US Justice threw the book at Mike Tyson for a lesser charge, how can they give LT a pass? It seems this comes down to DNA evidence in regards to the rape charge. LT's defense seems confident that no DNA evidence exists. Was DNA found and collected? Did the young girl undergo a rape kit examination?

These are the important questions at the heart of this case. The Kobe Byrant defense of he said, she said appears to be the defenses strategy which falls apart if any DNA evidence is found or collected.


gerald Jolly   May 11th, 2010 6:44 pm ET

I do not think the Lawrence Taylor should be charged with anything.

A prostitute is a prostitute, no matter how old she is.

I would bet my last bottom dollar that L.T. was not the first client she had.


Luis B. Rosario   May 11th, 2010 8:27 pm ET

@Cajazz
Hi. How are you Senor! I was gone for a while. I miss Dodie, too.
I have been a little busy," but I'm still kicking." You can also
write to my E mail.


Mary-Jane   May 11th, 2010 9:19 pm ET

@ Luis B. Rosario
@Smith in Oregon
@Cajazz76:24:8

It is nice to know there are men who do not make judgments on a 16 year-old 'child'. There is no proof at this moment in time, regarding her prostitution status.

It should be noted: Children are "not" born knowing how to be prostitutes; they learn from someone.

She has traversed on the well abused tracks of life.

Thank You

For men who enjoy very young looking women (old looking children), let this be a lesson. Always ask for ID!!!


Cajazz76:24:8   May 11th, 2010 9:51 pm ET

@Luis B Rosario

Hey amigo, glad to have you back where you belong and hitting the high notes. Hope you have been especially well and enjoying the finer things that life offers you.

@Mary-Jane
You are very correct in stating that no one knows what difficulty the 16 year-old had experienced in life to have led her away from home. When all is accounted for in court, I am certain the facts will reveal she was coerced and forced into the life she was living. Children, and most adults, involved in prostitution do not voluntarily choose to be involved in this lifestyle, they are first victims of circumstance the world over..


Will   May 12th, 2010 5:59 am ET

Time and time again I'm not only shocked by the acts of people but I'm truly tired of hearing how everyone just can't believe that Lawrence Taylor a Professional football player could do such a thing. When will we stop putting stars and athletes on Godly pedestals. I don't know LT personally and don't know the young woman so I would not judge on who guilty. I just wish the media and others would realize that he is human , a man like any other and just because he was on dancing with the stars does not mean he couldn't commit such a crime. Instead media and others should focus on the case facts. Granted I understand that the case will be highly publicized because of his pro career and etc. but really this goes for politicians as well , I'm not an angel and neither are they. Although this post may seem negative I just want to say that I do believe most people try to do what's right and we should always look for that first, but never dismiss the fact just because of someone's social status.


Tony   May 12th, 2010 2:44 pm ET

I know a young woman who was snached of the street and forced into prostitution. I mean psycally grabbed, forced into a van and dragged into prostitution. It all but destroyed her. Today she is as ok as she can be. But she was such a mess when we got her. Sex with minors is reprensible.


Dodie   May 12th, 2010 7:11 pm ET

@ Tony

Thank You!


olgeya   June 10th, 2010 3:57 am ET

men who enjoy very young looking women (old looking children), let this be a lesson. Always ask for ID!!!


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