Ex-counselor draws 3 consecutive terms

Marco Herrera, 53, a former counselor at West High School, was sentenced Tuesday to three prison terms of one-to-15 years. Third District Judge Vernice Trease ordered that the terms run consecutively.

Herrera previously had pleaded guilty to three second-degree felony counts of forcible sexual abuse involving a relationship he had with a female student at the school.

As part of the plea bargain, several other felonies were dismissed. Herrera was originally charged with three counts of rape, a first-degree felony; one count of forcible sodomy, a first-degree felony; and six counts of forcible sexual abuse, a second-degree felony.

Herrera, who was the 14-year-old girl's guidance counselor, was charged with engaging in sexual activity with her between April 1 and June 30 last year.

After school officials were informed of the police investigation, Herrera was suspended and later was fired.