An aide to U.S. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid escorted former Clark County Commissioner Dario Herrera out a secured private courthouse exit Friday, shortly after Herrera was convicted of several counts of political corruption.

Reid's director of veterans affairs, Charvez Foger, used his security-access card to help Herrera avoid dozens of reporters who had gathered outside the only public entrance to the Lloyd George U.S. Courthouse.

"The employee had access to certain corridors, and he used that access to help out Mr. Herrera," U.S. Marshal Fidencio Rivera said Tuesday. "It's contrary to our policy, but we have no oversight over Senator Reid's office."

Jurors returned guilty verdicts against Herrera and co-defendant Mary Kincaid-Chauncey about 4 p.m. Friday. The jury was excused from the courtroom at 4:20 p.m., according to court records. At 4:41 p.m., Foger's security card was used to gain access to a parking garage reserved for federal employees, Rivera said.

Sharyn Stein, a spokeswoman for Reid, said the senator was unaware that Foger had helped a felon leave the courthouse. She said Foger and Herrera have been friends for years, and Foger was simply doing Herrera a favor. Foger has acknowledged it was a mistake, Stein said.

"An old buddy of his was having a bad day and asked for a ride to his car," Stein said. "I don't think he thought it through at all. I'm not sure he would have any idea this would create a misperception."

In 2002, Herrera was considered Reid's protégé and the Democratic Party's future star. Reid handpicked Herrera, then 28, to challenge Republican Jon Porter for U.S. Congress. Herrera ultimately was tripped up by a series of ethical lapses.

In 2003, Herrera and Kincaid-Chauncey were indicted on charges they accepted cash bribes -- and in Herrera's case, sexual favors -- supplied by strip club owner Michael Galardi. In exchange for the bribes, the two commissioners voted favorably on Galardi-related matters.

After an eight-week trial, Herrera and Kincaid-Chauncey were convicted of the charges Friday. Sentencing was set for Aug. 21.

After the court reporter announced the verdict to a packed courtroom, Kincaid-Chauncey exited the front door and spoke at length with reporters.

Herrera's attorneys also emerged from the public exit.

Reporters waited for Herrera until they were told he had left through a separate exit.

"He should have walked through the front doors like anybody else," Rivera said.

Rivera said only witnesses who feel their lives are in danger are escorted through secured areas. If an employee of the U.S. Marshal's office had walked Herrera out a secured exit, disciplinary action would be taken. He said because Foger's action was not "egregious," Rivera's office has no intention of limiting Foger's building access.

"Our preliminary feedback is we had an individual make the mistake of allowing Mr. Herrera to go out the back door," Rivera said. "He knows he made an error and he's been apologetic to us."

Reid's office also has no plans to punish Foger.