Erin Henton, 45, of Hemet, sits in court Monday, Aug. 26, with her attorney, Stephen Cline, at the Southwest Justice Center in French Valley. Henton pleaded guilty to three counts of having sex with minors while she was an assistant principal at Tahquitz High School. The boys involved were all students at the Hemet school. — SARAH BURGE/STAFFA former assistant principal at a Hemet high school pleaded guilty Monday, Aug. 26, to three felony counts of having sex with boys who were students at the school.

Erin Renee Henton, 45, who worked at Tahquitz High School, has been in jail since her April arrest. She was scheduled for a preliminary hearing Monday afternoon at the Southwest Justice Center in French Valley but instead pleaded guilty as part of an agreement with prosecutors.

Henton was sentenced to a year in jail and three years’ probation. She was ordered to attend Alcoholics Anonymous and Sex Addicts Anonymous, not to take any job involving supervision of minors and to register as a sex offender while she is on probation.

Henton had been facing a dozen felony sex charges and the possibility, if convicted, of more than 10 years in prison. The remaining charges were dismissed as part of the plea agreement.

According to court records, the boys ranged in age from 16 to 17. Police found naked photos and videos of Henton and two of the boys on both the assistant principal’s and the victims’ cell phones, along with evidence of a sexual relationship with the third boy.

Henton had met one of the boys for sex at a W. Florida Avenue Hampton Inn, court records say.

Henton sat in court Monday in shackles and blue jail clothes during the brief hearing, answering a series of questions from Judge Arjuna Saraydarian. A few of Henton’s family members were in the courtroom but none of the victims or their relatives attended.

Prosecutor Julie Baldwin said in court that the families of two of the victims approved of the proposed plea agreement. The third victim’s family could not be reached, Baldwin said.

Henton’s attorney, Stephen Cline, said after the hearing that it was a difficult case but he believed the outcome was reasonable.

Hemet Unified School District officials did not immediately respond Monday afternoon to requests for information about Henton’s employment status.

Follow Sarah Burge on Twitter @sarahkburge or online at blog.pe.com/crime-blotter