A Coeur d’Alene man with a prior child injury conviction was handed the maximum prison sentence this month after pleading guilty to charges stemming from the sexual battery of seven children in Kootenai County.
Anthony William Peter Herrera, 41, was sentenced to 20 years in prison by First District Judge Barry McHugh following guilty pleas to two felony counts of injury to a child and two misdemeanor counts of sexual battery. Herrera will not be eligible for parole for 12 years.
Details of the Case
Prosecutors originally filed seven felony counts of child sexual abuse against Herrera, reflecting the number of victims — all children between the ages of 6 and 10. Those charges were dismissed as part of a plea agreement that resulted in the four-count conviction. Despite the reduced charges, Judge McHugh imposed the maximum term allowed under Idaho law for injury to a child.
At sentencing, Judge McHugh was direct in his assessment of Herrera’s conduct. “The number of victims in this case is shocking and indicates an inability to restrain your conduct,” the judge stated, as first reported by the Coeur d’Alene Press.
Prosecutors had recommended a 10-year sentence with parole eligibility at 10 years, while the defense sought a shorter term with parole eligibility at five years. The judge rejected both recommendations and opted for the maximum.
Prosecuting Attorney Nick Lepire described Herrera’s stated mindset toward the abuse, telling the court that Herrera “says he violated boundaries and he thought it was playful and fun,” as reported by the Coeur d’Alene Press.
A History of Prior Offenses
This was not Herrera’s first conviction involving child victims. In 2009, at age 22, he was convicted of injury to a child in connection with a sexual relationship involving a 15-year-old. That case resulted in a rider — a prison-based treatment program — but Herrera later violated his probation conditions and served additional prison time. His failure to comply with supervision following the 2009 case factored into the court’s handling of the current charges.
The pattern of reoffending, particularly against young children, underscored the prosecution’s argument for a significant sentence. Kootenai County residents can follow other serious criminal cases working through the local court system, including a murder case against a Coeur d’Alene man advancing toward a November trial and a Silver Valley father who received a 12-year sentence for abusing two children.
Resources for Victims and Families in North Idaho
For anyone in the Coeur d’Alene area or broader Kootenai County who has experienced or witnessed child abuse, Safe Passage offers confidential support. The organization can be reached by phone at 208-664-9303 or by text at 208-449-7228.
What Comes Next
Herrera will serve a minimum of 12 years before becoming eligible for parole consideration. Given his history of violating supervision conditions after his 2009 conviction, any future parole determination will likely weigh that record heavily. The case reflects the Kootenai County court system’s willingness to pursue maximum sentencing in cases involving multiple child victims, particularly when a defendant has demonstrated a prior pattern of similar conduct.