According to ESPN, Former NFL star Lawrence Taylor entered a plea of not guilty to charges of statutory rape and solicitation in a New York court. Taylor is accused of soliciting a prostitute in a case involving a 16-year-old runaway girl. Prosecutors say Taylor paid the 16-year-old girl $300 to have sex with him. The next court hearing is set for August 24, 2010 for a preliminary hearing.

A preliminary hearing requires the prosecution to present evidence to convince the judge that there is sufficient evidence to have Lawrence Taylor stand trial. The prosecution must show probable cause that Lawrence Taylor committed the crime for which he is accused.

If convicted, Taylor will be penalized under New York law. However, if this case was being prosecuted in California, Penal Code Section 261.5 states that unlawful sexual intercourse is an act of sexual intercourse accomplished with a person who is not the spouse of the perpetrator, if the person is a minor. A minor is a person who is under the age of 18 years. Taylor would be facing up to three years in prison and a fine of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) on the statutory rape count in California.

If your or a loved one is facing a sex crimes charge, it is important that you speak with an experienced Southern California sex crimes attorney. At Wallin & Klarich, our Southern California sex crime attorneys have over 30 years of experience in handling all types of sex crimes, including rape cases. Our attorneys will be able to immediately start on your case and fight to get you the best possible result. Call us today at (888) 280-6839 or contact us through our website at www.wklaw.com. We will be there when you call.