NYC Radio: Dave Herman Busted In Sex Sting

Dave Herman

Federal authorities have charged Dave Herman — who ruled the morning 1970s rock airwaves as a renowned disc jockey at New York's WNEW-FM — with trying to transport a 7-year-old Bergen County girl to the Virgin Islands to sexually abuse her, according to the Star-Ledger.

Herman, now 77, who lives in both Airmont, N.Y. and St. Croix, was arrested Thursday by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents at the St. Croix airport, said U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman in a statement.

Federal authorities, citing documents filed in the case, allege that starting in November 2012, Herman initiated a series of chats on a Web site with a female undercover officer from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office.

According to authorities, Herman thought he was communicating with a 36-year-old single mother -- she referred to herself as "Kris" -- who had a 6-year-old daughter she called "Lexi."

During the following months, Herman then had multiple phone and online discussions with the undercover officer, during which he indicated that he wanted to engage in sexual activity with the officer’s fictitious daughter "Lexi."

Ridgewood.patch.com is reporting Herman told the officer that "age 6 is the perfect time to start her being loved that way" and that he found "girls that age incredibly sexy, soft, and their innocence is also a huge turn on for me," according to the criminal complaint filed in connection with the case. He promised the woman that he would not hurt her daughter, but that he might have to be forceful with her and ply her with alcohol, authorities allege.

He also attempted to arrange sexual encounters with the child in both New York and Bergen County, NJ, authorities added.

Then in early 2013, Herman told "Kris," the undercover officer, that he would like to fly the her and her daughter to St. Croix to spend a few days with him so he could have sexual activity with the girl, authorities said.

On Sept. 30, 2013, according to authorities, Herman purchased airline tickets for them to fly from LaGuardia Airport to St. Croix.

On the criminal count of attempting to transport a minor in interstate commerce with the intent she engage in sexual activity, Herman faces is a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison, if convicted, authorities said. The charge also carries a maximum $250,000 fine, they added.

Read More Now

According to the NY Daily News, Stewart was a cornerstone of the legendary team on WNEW-FM 102.7 FM, which started as a free-form rock station and gradually evolved into the ultimate home of rock radio in New York.

All the rockers of that era passed through ‘NEW-FM, from John Lennon to Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, The Who and the Eagles.

Herman, as the morning host from 1972 to 1982, 1986 to 1991 and then again from 1996 until the station dissolved into chaos in 1998, was one of the station’s best-known voices.

He started in radio in Asbury Park, then in 1968 won a contest to become the first rock deejay on WMMR in Philadelphia. He called his show there “The Marconi Experiment,” alluding to the original developer of radio.

In 1970, ABC recruited him to come to New York and join the fledgling WABC-FM. That station would evolve into WPLJ, and some reports say Herman suggested those call letters – an allusion to a popular 1950s rhythm & blues song called “White Port Lemon Juice.”

WABC-FM was to be the flagship for “The Love Network,” and Herman did shows both for the national network and the local station. He started on Feb. 21, 1970.

Read More Now