San Juan County CEO Keith Johns said last week he looks forward to getting embattled jail director Tom Havel back to work later this month.

Johns, unfortunately, seems to be in a distant minority on whether Havel should be allowed to return to the top leadership role at the San Juan County Detention Center. The Daily Times reiterates today a stance it took in March that Havel should not be allowed to keep his job.

Havel has been on leave as director of the San Juan County Detention Center since January, following the filing of felony and misdemeanor domestic violence charges against his wife. After the felony charges — which included kidnapping, aggravated battery and intimidation of a witness — were dropped in March, the final misdemeanor battery complaint was dismissed last Monday by Cuba Judge Kenneth Eichwald.

Much of the case hinged on cooperation from Havel's wife. Lorna Havel first claimed her husband threatened to kill her and dragged her by the hair repeatedly while attempting to prevent her from leaving their home on Foutz Road on Jan. 11. Days later, the alleged victim requested that prosecutors drop the domestic violence charges, saying in a court notice that the incident "was a private matter that was blown out of proportion ..."

The local District Attorney's Office still pursued the charges, despite Lorna Havel's request to have them dismissed. In mid-January, Chief Deputy District Attorney Dustin O'Brien said the request didn't change the victim's initial story that was filed by the Farmington Police Department. He also added affidavits of non-prosecution are fairly common in domestic cases, and said credible serious criminal allegations must be presented to the court.

Lorna Havel, following those first statements to police, never provided any substantial cooperation in the case against her husband. A magistrate judge later dismissed the felony charges in March, saying prosecutors did not present evidence to show probable cause that Havel attacked his wife. Last Monday, the final misdemeanor charge against the jail director was dismissed, thus clearing the way for the county to bring Havel back.

Johns said last week he plans to meet with Havel Monday to discuss when he will return.

"There's no grounds to dismiss him because he didn't do anything — he's innocent," Johns said. "This has been a long ordeal for everyone concerned — it's time to move on."

Havel has long been a controversial figure in San Juan County. Yes, it's true that running a detention center is a difficult task that takes a certain kind of person, but this newspaper believes it's time to move away from Havel and find someone else to run the county jail.

Judging by the massive volume of negativity against Havel from phone calls to the paper, letters to the editor, online discussion forums and Web site polls, most people in the community also believe he is not a good fit for San Juan County. He does have his supporters — but not many.

Havel has lost the respect and confidence of the community, and does not meet the high standards that should be evident in anyone who is director of the San Juan County Detention Center.

Yes, all criminal charges were dismissed, but those clouds of suspicion and doubt remain. The fact is he was arrested on several felony domestic violence charges. The case stalled when his wife refused to cooperate.

It's the implication of impropriety that continues to concern many in San Juan County. The question remains, is Tom Havel the best person possible to run the county jail?

We say "no," and hope that San Juan County's leadership rethinks its position on Havel's return.