When it comes to dealing with pedophile predators, few people know as much as Aventura attorney Jeff Herman, who has represented dozens of men, who as teens, were allegedly raped by priests.
On Tuesday, he gave perspective on the ongoing scandal at Penn State University.
Herman said that predators, unfortunately, don't know the difference between horseplay and going too far.
Herman listened to a televised interview Monday night between Jerry Sandusky and Bob Costas on NBC.
"I have horsed around with kids, I have showered after workouts, I have hugged them, touched their legs, without intent of sexual contact. I say that I am innocent of these charges," said Sandusky.
Herman has heard this excuse too many times before.
"If you recall, Father Mercieca, the priest accused of sexually abusing Congressman Foley, when he was interviewed he said it was just horseplay too," said Herman. "It was just bizarre."
The Penn State scandal has the nation transfixed.
Herman knows more than most about how pedophiles cover their tracks. He said that when Penn State officials didn't completely sever ties with Sandusky in 1998 when the first allegations surfaced, they started digging a hole they couldn't climb out of.
"And to me it's very similar to what I see in the Catholic Church where someone started the coverup and then once they're in, they keep it going and unfortunately it leads to decades of kids being abused," said Herman.
Herman said he believed that once some victims begin to come forward, others will sense a feeling of collective empowerment and then come forward too. Herman added that there may be a flurry of lawsuits being filed against Penn State University in the future.
