Taylor pleads guilty; probation expected

RAMAPO, N.Y., Jan. 14 (UPI) -- A police chief said he believes the resolution reached in former NFL linebacker Lawrence Taylor's sexual misconduct case is "fair and appropriate."

Taylor, 51, who pleaded guilty in New York Thursday to sexual misconduct and patronizing a prostitute, is expected to be given six years probation with sex-offender status, CNN reported Friday.

The Hall of Famer was arrested in May on charges of "improper sexual conduct involving an underage girl in a Rockland County (N.Y.) hotel," the county district attorney's office said.

Prosecutors said the girl was 16. Taylor's attorney said she lied to Taylor about her age.

Taylor was arrested in a Ramapo, N.Y., Holiday Inn room on May 6 shortly after the alleged encounter took place. Ramapo is about 30 miles northwest of New York City.

"This department believes that the resolution reached in this case is fair and appropriate," Ramapo Police Chief Peter Brower said Thursday.

Taylor's attorney, Arthur Aidala, said his client "patronized a prostitute and that prostitute happened to be under the age of 17. Although he inquired as to her age he was lied to."

"He could have taken a much more aggressive road but he decided it was in the best interest of he and his family, and the young woman involved here, to dispose of the case the way we did today, to put this behind him," Aidala said.

Taylor also is expected to be fined $2,000 when he is sentenced March 22.