Pro-football Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor has been officially registered as a low-risk sex offender, a New York judge ruled according to the Associated Press.
Rockland County Court Judge William Kelly registered Taylor as a 60, within the range of level 1 status, the lowest level for sex offenders classified as being a low risk to the public. In opposition, ESPN reports the district attorney’s office argued that Taylor should be classified as Level 2 and have his name and photo made public as a medium risk offender considering the likelihood of him repeating his crime. Judge Kelly nevertheless ruled otherwise.
“I frankly don’t think is likely,” Kelly said, who also acknowledged that Taylor wasn’t targeting children, despite his conviction of sexual misconduct.
Taylor agreed to a guilty plea bargain sentence of six months probation in January, after admitting he paid for sexual intercourse with a 16-year-old girl in 2010, but claims he was misled to believe she was 19.
The former NFL star wasn’t present at the registry hearing on April 11, but his attorney Arthur Aidala told reporters that the low level status is a “relief” for Taylor and that it will “make a difference” in the sponsorship opportunities he will receive in the future. Taylor is expected to be a headline guest at a charity golf tournament to benefit disabled children in Montclair, N.J. on June 20, according to ESPN.com.