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Judge marks former NFL star Lawrence Taylor as low-level sex offender

By the CNN Wire Staff
Lawrence Taylor, right, was sentenced last month to probation after pleading guilty to sexual misconduct with an underage girl.
Lawrence Taylor, right, was sentenced last month to probation after pleading guilty to sexual misconduct with an underage girl.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • The decision means Taylor's photo will not be in the online registry of sex offenders
  • He was charged with sex crimes last May
  • Taylor was sentenced to six years probation and a $2,000 fine
  • The linebacker is in the NFL Hall of Fame
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New York (CNN) -- A Rockland County, New York, judge has designated Hall of Fame NFL linebacker Lawrence Taylor as a "Level 1" sex offender, a low-level classification, said court clerk Kathy Sullivan.

The decision Tuesday by Judge William Kelly means Taylor's photo will not be posted on the online registry of sex offenders.

Taylor was sentenced last month to six years probation and a $2,000 fine after pleading guilty to sexual misconduct with an underage girl.

He was arrested last May on charges of "improper sexual conduct involving an underage girl in a Rockland County hotel," the district attorney's office said. Prosecutors said Taylor paid the teen $300 after "sexual acts."

The girl, who was 16 years old at the time of the incident, denied allegations that she was a prostitute.

Sister of Taylor sex crime victim speaks

Taylor entered a guilty plea to one count of sexual misconduct and one count of patronizing a prostitute in the third degree, both misdemeanor charges, prosecutors said.

He was arrested in a Ramapo, New York, Holiday Inn room on May 6, a few hours after the encounter took place, authorities said. Ramapo is about 30 miles northwest of New York City.

In July, Taylor's wife vehemently denied that the famous linebacker had sex with the underage prostitute.

"He didn't rape anyone. He didn't have sex with anyone. He didn't call a pimp," Lynette Taylor said on "Larry King Live."

She told King that the girl snuck into her husband's hotel room because many people knew Taylor was in town for an autograph signing.

Taylor gave her $300 because she was going through bad times, Lynette Taylor said.

"So I mean for him, $300, here -- here is $300. Will this help you out any? It was very much that," said Lynette Taylor. "Yes, he should have told her to get the heck out of my room. But I cannot explain why men do what they do."

In Session's Chris Perry contributed to this report.