Why was Hall of Fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor arrested?
Though details continue to emerge, what’s clear is that the former NFL star is in trouble with the law and what’s worse is that this is not the first time.
While it’s clear that Lawrence Taylor has had numerous encounters with the law, it’s also equally demonstrable that he has in no way hidden from that fact. Is that evidence of a man who is good enough to admit when he’s wrong, or is it simply the behavior of an individual who accepts he will never change?
Lawrence Taylor arrested in Florida
According to reports, Hall of Fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor was arrested in Florida on Wednesday on a felony warrant for failing to report his residence change as a registered sex offender. As per the Pembroke Pines (Fla.) Police Department, the former linebacker turned himself in at the Broward Sheriff’s Office in Fort Lauderdale and was released on bail on Thursday. It is understood that Taylor turned himself in at approximately 5 p.m. local time on Wednesday and was later released after spending several hours in custody, at approximately 3:00 a.m. on Thursday.
It should be said that this is not the first time that Taylor, now 65 years old, has been detained in the same situation. Back in December of 2021. he was arrested in Florida for essentially the same thing. Taylor’s attorney, Mark Eiglarsh, called the situation a “misunderstanding” before stating that his client would plead not guilty to the charges in question. “As with the previous incident involving the same allegations, Mr. Taylor did not knowingly commit any criminal offense. This situation is a significant misunderstanding,” Eiglarsh said. “We are confident that, once the prosecutors review the exculpatory evidence demonstrating Mr. Taylor’s innocence, he will once again achieve a favorable outcome.”
Regarding the understandable questions surrounding the charge itself, the situation stems from an arrest that occurred more than ten years ago, after which Taylor pleaded guilty to charges of sexual misconduct and patronizing a prostitute. The result was his registration as a sex offender. Due to that, Taylor is now required by law to inform authorities of any change in residence. Where his 2021 case is concerned, Taylor pleaded no contest to a lesser charge of residency restriction for persons convicted of such crimes. While there appears to be some degree of technicality in this situation, it’s worth noting that the two scenarios are not the only times that Taylor has found himself on the wrong side of the law. Considered by many to be the greatest defensive player in NFL history, he was also charged with leaving the scene of an accident in 2009, as well as a 2017 scenario that saw him plead guilty to a DUI. While it would be unfair to place any judgment on Taylor at this time, it’s certainly not a good look.