TMZ Sports - Page 50

It doesn't matter what Lawrence Taylor thought.

If the NFL legend had sex with an underage girl, according to the law, it's statutory rape.

According to the criminal complaint, the 16-year-old girl told an FBI agent her pimp instructed her to tell LT that she was 19.

But under New York law, it doesn't matter if the girl lied to Taylor about her age. If the girl is underage, it's statutory rape.

Uber New York criminal defense lawyer Ben Brafman tells TMZ, "The age of the person is what controls, not what [the defendant] thought." Under the law, it's called "strict liability" -- meaning it doesn't matter if LT had a reasonable belief that the girl was over the age of consent.

Brafman says sometimes juries will go beyond the law if they believe the defendant acted reasonably -- but the law, Brafman says, is rigid.

Brafman also notes that sometimes "the issue gets resolved at the [police] precinct level," if the cops think the suspect made an honest error.

Harder to do when the suspect is a celeb.

The 16-year-old girl who allegedly had sex with Lawrence Taylor for $300 told cops that her pimp instructed her to tell the NFL great she was 19 years old, this according to federal documents obtained by TMZ.

The FBI is now investigating alleged pimp Rasheed Davis -- on suspicion of human sex trafficking ... a federal violation.

According to the federal criminal complaint, an FBI agent assigned to the case claims Davis had "caused" the 16-year-old to "engage in multiple commercial sex acts with various individuals" ... and even "set the prices."

The FBI agent also claims that Davis had taken several "almost nude" photographs of the girl on his cell phone in order to obtain customers.

In the docs, the FBI agent claims Davis had sent the girl text messages instructing her to have sex with a client (Lawrence Taylor) on May 5th -- but the girl refused.

So, according to the agent, Davis physically assaulted her "in an effort to coerce [the victim] into participating in a commercial sex act."

According to the agent, Davis then instructed the victim to tell Lawrence Taylor that she was 19 and charge him $300 for sex.

After the alleged encounter, the agent says the victim contacted a relative via text message to ask for help.

When police caught up with Rasheed Davis on May 6, they claim they found $300 in his car.

According to the docs, Davis admitted to police that he had received money from pimpin' out the alleged victim to Lawrence Taylor ... among other people.

Dirk stuck out like a sore thumb Saturday night at LIV nightclub in Miami -- where the 7-footer was photographed drowning his sorrows while towering over several intrigued woman.

TMZ has learned the Huntington Beach Police Department has handed the case over to the D.A. -- who will ultimately decide whether to press charges.

As we first reported, Tito was arrested on April 26 for felony domestic violence, after he allegedly got physical with his baby mama Jenna Jameson.

Jenna has since contradicted herself about what went down that day ... something the D.A. will probably take into consideration.

Taylor was arrested early this morning in Suffern, NY -- and formally arraigned on charges of 3rd degree rape and patronizing a prostitute.

Lynette Taylor was supposed to appear on King's show via satellite from Florida ... but she just 86'd the interview ... we're told her husband's legal team has something to do with it.

We're told Lynette says she'll appear on King's show next Monday or Tuesday.

Before he was arrested this morning for allegedly engaging in illegal sex with a 16-year-old girl, LT had his picture taken by the police at least twice before.

Just last year, LT had to mug up after he was arrested on suspicion of hit-and-run.

And back in 1996, Taylor was the star of a black and white pic after he was busted for attempted possession of crack.

Taylor was formally arraigned on charges of 3rd degree rape (sex with a minor) and patronizing a prostitute in the 3rd degree. He's plead not guilty to the charges.

The prosecution first requested that the judge set bail at $100k, citing LT's lengthy criminal history. Taylor's attorney called the request "ludicrous." Ultimately, the judge settled on $75k.

Minutes before the arraignment, cops held a news conference, where they confirmed several facts:

-- LT was "very cooperative" with police.

-- Cops say LT had some alcohol inside hishotel room, but officials won't specify what kind or how much. LTdidn't appear to be intoxicated when cops arrived to his room.

-- Officers also claim LT did not attack his accuser, her black eye was caused before she arrived to his hotel room.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ Lawrence Taylor's accuser told police that the NFL legend paid her $300 for sex.

As we previously reported, LT was arrested this morning on suspicion of raping an underage girl in a Holiday Inn outside NYC.

Cops have already confirmed that the accuser was under the control of a pimp -- who was later arrested.

Lawrence Taylor's wife is standing by her man while he faces allegations of rape -- telling TMZ she believes the entire incident is one big "setup."

TMZ just spoke with Lynette Taylor -- LT's 3rd wife -- who tells us the allegations are "all bullsh*t."

As for why she suspects a setup, Lynette claims that the timing of the arrest is suspicious because it came just days after LT was featured on an A&E documentary called "Fame and Recovery" which she believes "made him out to be a monster."

Lynette wouldn't expand on who she thought could be behind such a plot, but she was adamant that the timing of the show and the arrest were no coincidence.

Lawrence Taylor is proclaiming his innocence against an allegation that he raped an underage girl in NY this morning.

TMZ spoke with LT's lawyer, Kenneth Gribetz, who tells us Taylor is adamant that he's not guilty.

Gribetz also tells us LT -- who is still behind bars in the Town of Ramapo -- is "extremely upset about the situation."

TMZ has learned investigators recovered a condom from the Holiday Inn hotel room where NFL legend Lawrence Taylor allegedly raped an underage girl early this morning.

According to the Town of Ramapo supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence, investigators found LT asleep inside the room when they first arrived to the hotel.

We're told cops recovered a condom as well as other physical evidence when they took LT into custody. Cops tell us they found NO DRUGS or paraphernalia at the scene.

As for the accuser, cops confirm that she's 16 years old ... and that she was reported as a "runaway" from the Bronx back in March.

Cops also confirm that the accuser was under the control of a pimp, who was arrested by the NYPD when he -- along with the accuser and a third person -- returned to the city today.

Officials have released a statement confirming 51-year-old Taylor was taken into custody by police after someone accused the Hall of Famer of committing rape early this morning at a Holiday Inn in Suffern, NY.

The Town of Ramapo Police Department is currently investigating the situation.

A news conference is scheduled to take place in the next few hours.

Taylor -- who's considered one of the greatest defensive players of all time -- recently performed a stint on "Dancing with the Stars."

Taylor has a deep history with the law -- he's been arrested multiple times on drug charges ... and back in November, he was arrested for hit-and-run.

UPDATE: According to a local NY paper, authorities have identified the victim as a 15-year-old girl, who was working under the control of a pimp. TMZ has not been able to independently confirm the report.

Story developing ...

Bombshell is scheduled to box porn star Gina Lynn on May 7 -- and judging by the footage, taken at Undisputed Downtown gym in San Diego, she's taking the fight very seriously.

The woman behind the lawsuit is Siohvaughn Wade -- the mother of Dwyane's two sons. Siohvaughn just filed a new lawsuit, on behalf of the two minor children (an 8-year-old and a 2-year-old) -- claiming Wade has engaged in "extreme and outrageous conduct" with his new GF Gabrielle Union in front of Wade's two children.

But Wade tells TMZ, "I am shocked that Siohvaughn Wade has brought this baseless and meritless lawsuit in the name of our children against Gabrielle Union."

Wade adds, "I am deeply saddened and disappointed that Siohvaughn has used our sons once again as pawns and is now lashing out at Gabrielle, who is an innocent party. It is clear that this is a desperate attempt to retaliate against me for seeking sole custody of our children and requesting that the court have her undergo a psychiatric examination."

Wade concludes, "My primary concern is my children and actions such as this only inflame the situation and are harmful to their well being.”