Ex-commissioner Herrera put on tighter leash

A federal judge in San Francisco increased supervision Wednesday for former Clark County Commissioner Dario Herrera, who was released from prison in June 2009 after serving about 29 months for his role in a high-profile corruption case.

Herrera, 39, was to be on supervised release until Dec. 13, but U.S. probation officials in California initiated revocation proceedings after his June arrest on a misdemeanor charge of domestic battery.

Jack Gillund, a spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office in San Francisco, said Herrera made his first appearance Wednesday before Senior U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer.

The spokesman said Breyer increased Herrera's level of supervision by probation officials and added intensive counseling, which will amount to multiple sessions each week.

Gillund said Herrera must participate in anger management counseling, couples counseling and domestic violence counseling.

The spokesman said Breyer ordered the parties to return to court Dec. 5, when the judge will determine whether to proceed with revoking Herrera's supervised release.

Herrera was arrested by Tiburon, Calif., police June 17 after they were called to the Bay Area home he shares with his wife, Michelle. Officers saw the couple arguing, and Herrera's wife told them he pushed her several times and head-butted her in the face, according to an affidavit prepared by Herrera's federal probation officer in California.

According to the document, there is probable cause to believe that Herrera violated the standard condition of supervised release that prohibits an offender from committing any additional crimes.

A federal judge in Las Vegas sentenced Herrera in 2006 to four years in prison for his involvement in a political corruption scheme that ensnared three fellow commissioners.

During an eight-week trial, jurors learned of payoffs Herrera accepted from then-strip club owner Michael Galardi in exchange for zone changes that kept competitors away from Galardi's palatial clubs.

Witnesses described salacious encounters Herrera had with Galardi's strippers, including free golf outings that included sexual favors from the dancers.

Herrera's wife, Emily, stood by his side during the court hearings, but the two divorced while Herrera was imprisoned in Florence, Colo.

After Herrera's release, he found employment in Las Vegas. He later relocated to Northern California.

Contact reporter Carri Geer Thevenot at cgeer@reviewjournal.com or 702-384-8710.