A former radio host in New York City died in jail on Thursday while awaiting trial for child sex charges, according to CBS News.
Dave Herman, 78, was pronounced dead at University Hospital in Newark, New Jersey. On Wednesday night, he was rushed to the hospital after complaining of chest pains, attorney Marc Agnifilo said. An official cause of death has not been determined.
In October, Herman was arrested at an airport in St. Croix -- where he had been living -- after allegedly trying to transport a seven-year-old girl from the Virgin Islands to the United States for sex.
At the time of his arrest, he was waiting for a 36-year-old woman and her young daughter that he believed to have been communicating with in several online and telephone conversations about arranging sex with the girl.
According to authorities, Herman began using an online chat room in November 2012 that included an undercover official from the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office. In the chats, he thought he was talking with the 36-year-old woman and her daughter.
Over several months, Herman expressed his desire to have sex with the child several times and told them he would fly both down to St. Croix from New York. When he arrived at the airport to pick them up, he was detained.
Herman's lawyer argued he only engaged in the online discussions because he was interested in the 36-year-old woman. Following his arrest, he pleaded guilty to charges and was denied bail.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey told CBS News that officials will dismiss the charges against Herman, which is protocol upon death of a defendant.
Herman hosted the "Dave Herman Rock and Roll Show" on WNEW.
