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Dario Herrera returning to Las Vegas

Dario Herrera is coming home to Las Vegas, if you consider a half-way house a home.

But he’s coming home as a divorced man.

Herrera’s wife, Emily, filed for divorce Sept. 30, 2008 and the divorce was granted Oct. 28, 2008.

Former Clark County Commissioner Dario Herrera and his ex-wife, Emily, leave the Lloyd George U.S. Courthouse in this 2006 file photo.

She had been loyal throughout his legal problems, sitting stoically in the courtroom as witnesses described her husband’s infidelity during his trial, accompanying him to trial every day. They have two children.

The 35-year-old former Clark County commissioner will take up residence Thursday at the Las Vegas Community Corrections Center at 2901 Industrial Road, in the shadow of Circus-Circus hotel-casino.

Somehow that seems appropriate since the commission had circus tendencies while he was on it, using his commission job to help out topless club owner Mike Galardi’s business, in exchange for cash and sexual favors.

Herrera began serving his sentence at the Florence Federal Correctional Center in Colorado in January 2007 and his release date is Dec. 14. But like his co-defendant Mary Kincaid-Chancey, his final six months will be in a Las Vegas halfway house.

He was sentenced 50 months in prison and ordered to pay more than $76,000 in fines and restitution. He’ll be under supervised release for three years and was ordered to perform 100 hours of community service.

A federal jury found him guilty of one count of conspiracy, ten counts of wire fraud and six counts of extortion. Herrera also received three years of supervised release and 100 hours of community service.

The one-time politician with so much promise will come home and try to rebuild his life in Las Vegas. But he’s coming home as a divorced dad.

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