Retired New York deejay David Herman made his first appearance in U.S. District Court of the Virgin Islands on Friday on charges of attempting to transport a minor to the island for sexual activity.
Herman, 77, of Airmont, N.Y., was arrested at the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport on Thursday by federal agents. Herman allegedly went to the airport under the impression that a mother and daughter duo would be waiting for himto take them to his vacation home on St. Croix.
Herman was met instead by officials from U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Homeland Security Investigations, according to a press release from the U.S. attorney’s office district of New Jersey.
According to the affidavit, in November 2012 Herman began an online conversation with someone he believed was a 36-year-old female named Kris with a 6-year-old daughter named Lexi.
The person known as “Kris” was, in fact, an undercover law enforcement officer who posted fictitious information on a website.
Allegedly Herman, using the screen name david121482, engaged Kris in several conversations about Lexi. The affidavit states Herman said, “I find girls that age incredibly sexy, soft and their innocence is also a huge turn on for me.”
Herman allegedly made several failed attempts to meet Kris and Lexi, believing that they resided in Bergen County, N.J. The affidavit states that Herman’s “ultimate goal” was to try to have sex with Lexi.
On Sept. 30, 2013, Herman allegedly purchased airline tickets for both Kris and Lexi to fly on Oct. 24 to St. Croix from the LaGuardia International Airport.
On Friday, Magistrate Judge George Cannon read Herman his right to choose whether he will sit his preliminary examination and detention hearing on St. Croix or in the district of New Jersey – where the warrant for his arrest was issued.
Herman and appointed federal public defender Gabriel Villegas decided upon an "immediate transfer" to New Jersey to conduct his detention hearing.
Herman waived his right for a preliminary hearing as well as an identity hearing.
Villegas mentioned in court that the defendant has "health and medication needs" that he will make sure are met until that transfer occurs.
Herman appeared wide-eyed at first. His feet were bound by cuffs and his hands were jittery as he listened and nodded as Cannon read aloud his rights.
Rebekah Carmichael, public affairs officer from the U.S. attorney’s office district of New Jersey, said that Herman will be detained in Puerto Rico pending transfer to New Jersey, which should take a couple of weeks.
According to the New York Daily News, Herman is best known for hosting “The Dave Herman Rock and Roll Morning Show” on the radio from 1972 to 1998 on the now obsolete WNEW-FM in New York.
