The legendary WNEW-FM New York DJ apparently suffered an aneurysm inside the Essex County Jail in Newark. He was charged with attempting to transport a minor to engage in sexual activity — a federal charge — and court documents indicate he was negotiating a plea.
Herman was facing up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted. He was one of the city’s most prominent radio voices from 1972-98, and spent 40 years on the air before his retirement, said the NY Daily News.
He was accused last October of trying to transport a 7-year-old New Jersey girl to the U.S. Virgin Islands for sex. He was arrested at the St. Croix airport. Federal authorities say Herman had expected to meet the girl and her mother flying in from New York.
Herman’s lawyer had said his client was fooled by an undercover cop in a sex sting. Attorney Marc Agnifilo said Herman received a photo from a female officer who made it clear that “the only way he could meet her was to engage in banter about the child.”
Herman, who has a home in St. Croix, was being held in jail pending his transfer to New Jersey to face the federal charge, which carries a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life. The complaint against Herman was filed in federal court in Newark.
So on 2/18, The Newark Federal Court jury handed up an indictment against Herman, who was jailed immediately after his 10/24 arrest at the St. Croix airport.
Herman was charged with a single count of attempting to transport a minor to engage in sexual activity. He was indeed busted in a sting operation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office. The child’s “mom” was a cop.
Prosecutors said Herman wrote a creepy come-on to the intended victim’s mother: “age 6 is the perfect time to start her being loved.” Prosecutors also charged that he intended to get the child intoxicated before abusing her.
See the NY Daily News story here.
