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Taylor claims he was entrapped Request to dismiss charges delayed until start date of trial
Posted: Friday November 12, 1999 06:49 PM
CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) -- Hall of Fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor was entrapped during a drug deal last year, his lawyers claimed Friday in asking a judge to drop charges against him. But prosecutors argued that the motion to dismiss was not clear and Circuit Judge Lauren Laughlin told defense lawyers to reword and resubmit it Nov. 30 -- the day the 10-time Pro Bowl player is scheduled to go to trial. Taylor's lawyers do not deny the 40-year-old former NFL player accepted drugs, but maintain that he was ensnared by an undercover officer. Taylor refused comment after the 45-minute hearing. Taylor, of Saddle River, N.J., was charged last October in St. Pete Beach with buying $50 of crack cocaine, possession of crack cocaine, and possession of drug paraphernalia after allegedly buying the drug from an undercover police officer. "He was entrapped into doing that as a result of police misconduct," said Taylor's lawyer, Angelo Ferlita. Ferlita referred to an informant pursuing Taylor and called the conduct "reprehensible." The defense lawyer has maintained police preyed on Taylor because he has had a longtime drug problem. Also arrested was Victoria Corey, 41, identified as an employee of L.T. Enterprises. The informant who helped police arrest Taylor said in a deposition that the former linebacker approached him when he was in town for a charity golf tournament. Clemente Brown said the relationship started when Taylor introduced himself and asked if Brown could help find some crack. Brown informed police, who later listened in as Brown called Taylor at his hotel on Oct. 18, 1998 to set up the deal. Taylor was nervous because police had stopped him earlier in the day and at first he put Brown off. Several hours later an uninvited Brown knocked at Taylor's door with an undercover police officer posing as his wife. After a discussion, Taylor held up a $50 bill and the officer provided the crack. Taylor was arrested. Taylor, who helped the New York Giants to two Super Bowl titles in a 13-year career that ended in 1993, has had a long, well-publicized battle with drug addiction. He was arrested on similar charges two years ago in South Carolina and enrolled in a pretrial intervention program that enabled him to wipe the charges from his record by completing 60 hours of community service and submitting to drug counseling and random drug testing. Taylor also underwent rehabilitation for a cocaine problem in 1985 and was suspended by the NFL two years later for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy.
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