(09/16/08 – Initial BBT Report)

Jeff Wenham, 46, a former teacher and student body adviser at Helix Charter High School in La Mesa, California pleaded guilty in El Cajon Superior Court today to misdemeanor charges of committing a lewd act in public and failing to report that another teacher also was having an inappropriate relationship with a female student.

Wenham faces up to a year in jail at sentencing on October 15th.

Wenham came to the attention of authorities when the father of an 18-year-old student reported to officers that his daughter was having an “inappropriate relationship” with a teacher. That teacher was later identified by police as Wenham.

Wenham is the fourth Helix Charter High School teacher sentenced for the sexual abuse of students in the past two years.

Last month Gary Wilcox was sentenced to a year in jail after pleading guilty to having sex with a 17-year-old female student. Wilcox’s victim is the same female student victimized by Jeff Wenham.

Previously Jessica Kahal and Frank Palumbo, two Helix High music teachers, were found guilty of having sex with students in 2006 and 2007. Both received probation and community service.

10./15/08 – Sentencing

Jeff Wenham has been sentenced to serve 60 days in a work program where he spends his nights in a locked building.

Wenham was also ordered to perform 20 days of community service and serve three years probation.

References:

Teacher sentenced in wake of sexual relationship with student (10/15/08)

Ex-Helix teacher pleads guilty to inappropriate relationship with student (09/16/08)

Student adviser admits inappropriate relationship (09/16/08)

Ex-Adviser Admits Inappropriate Relationship (09/16/08)

(07/19/07 – Initial BBT Report)

Marco Rutlelco Herrera, 51, a former school counselor at West High School in Salt Lake City, Utah has been arrested on multiple felony counts of first-degree rape, forcible sodomy and forcible sexual abuse.

The charges allege a sexual relationship with a fourteen-year-old female student at West High School.

Herrera allegedly had sexual intercourse with the girl at least three times, without her consent, between April and July of 2007 and allegedly engaged in forcible sodomy with the girl and touched her inappropriately on multiple occasions.

Herrera remains in the Salt Lake County jail in lieu of $250,000 bail.

Police are continuing their investigation and indicate that there may be other juvenile victims and are requesting anyone with information call the Salt Lake County Police Department at (801) 799-3000.

09/04/08 – Sentencing

Marco Herrera who pleaded guilty in April to three second-degree felony counts of forcible sexual abuse has been sentenced to serve three consecutive 1 to 15 year terms in the Utah State Prison.

Herrera will also be required to pay an as-yet undetermined amount of restitution to the victim.

References:

Ex-counselor draws 3 consecutive terms (09/04/08)

Former guidance counselor sentenced in sex case (09/04/08)

Ex-West High counselor sentenced to prison for sex with student (09/03/08)

Former West High School counselor arrested; faces rape, sex abuse charges (7/19/07)

West High counselor charged with sexually abusing 14-year-old girl (7/19/07)

High School Counselor Jailed For Sex With Student (7/19/07)

(08/17/07 – Initial BBT Report)

Diane Amanda Hillman, 39, a counselor at Ballou Junior High, in Puyallup, Washington has been charged with third-degree child rape and third-degree child molestation for an alleged sexual relationship with a 15-year-old female student.

Hillman came to the attention of authorities when police found Hillman and the girl in a vehicle at a public park after midnight on April 21. The deputy took the girl home and notified the school of the incident. Thereafter Hillman was directed to have no further contact with the student.

Reportedly, the student’s mother contacted police on August 1st regarding text messages the mother alleged that Hillman had been sending the girl. Allegedly these messages said “I will lose my job”, “I miss you” and “I will wait for you”. Subsequently the girl allegedly revealed details of sexual contacts she’d had with the counselor

In interviews with authorities the girl allegedly told police that the relationship had become physical after Hillman broke up with her girlfriend and that Hillman had fondled and molested her several times over the course of about five months.

On Friday, Hillman charged with three counts of third-degree child rape and one count of third-degree child molestation was arraigned Friday. She was jailed in lieu of $10,000 bail and her next court appearance is set for August 28th.

04/27/08 – Sentencing

Diane Hillman who pleaded guilty in February to three counts of third-degree child rape and one count of third-degree child molestation has been sentenced to 5 years in prison.

Hillman requested to be sentenced under a special provision that would keep her out of prison but require extensive sex offender treatment. The victim has asked that Hillman be sentenced to the maximum allowed by law. The judge rejected Hillman’s request saying that Hillman violated her position of trust.

References:

Ex-school counselor gets 5 years for raping teen (04/27/08)

Former junior high counselor gets five years for raping student (04/26/08)

School counselor pleads not guilty to molesting girl (8/11/07)

School counselor charged with raping girl, 15 (8/11/07)

School counselor charged with child rape (8/10/07)

School counselor in WA charged with child rape (8/10/07)