Book shut on Herrera corruption case

Former Clark County Commissioner Dario Herrera completed his post-prison supervision Thursday, closing the book on his 9-year-old corruption case.

Herrera, 39, also resolved a domestic violence case that threatened to send him back to a federal prison.

He was released from prison in June 2009 after serving about 29 months for his role in a federal corruption case that ensnared three other former commissioners.

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

Herrera was arrested by Tiburon, Calif., police June 17 after they were called to the Bay Area home he shared 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 was probable cause to believe that Herrera violated the standard condition of supervised release that prohibits an offender from committing additional crimes.

A spokeswoman at Marin County Superior Court said the district attorney never filed charges in the battery case.

In August, Herrera made his first appearance before Senior U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer in San Francisco.

The judge increased Herrera's level of supervision by probation officials and added intensive counseling. Herrera was to participate in anger management counseling, couples counseling and domestic violence counseling.

Federal court records show Herrera briefly appeared before Breyer again Wednesday for a status conference.

Jack Gillund, a spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office in San Francisco, said probation officials recommended Breyer take no further action and dismiss the matter because of Herrera's successful performance since his arrest.

"So basically there are no further court dates set," the spokesman said.

Attempts to reach Herrera's California lawyer, Julie Salamon, were not successful.

A federal judge in Las Vegas sentenced Herrera in 2006 to four years in prison for his involvement in the high-profile corruption scheme.

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. They have two children.

After Herrera's release, he found employment in Las Vegas and had a baby with another woman. He later relocated to Northern California.

His Twitter profile describes him as CEO of Acento Digital Media and lists clients such as rapper Pitbull and singer Chris Daughtry. It also provides a link to Acento's website, which contains no information.

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