Man keeps county job after many arrests

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - News 13 has learned an Albuquerque man with a lengthy arrest record works in one of the Bernalillo County Public Safety departments his father, a high-ranking county official, oversees.

Jamie Dantis, 29, has been arrested at least ten times since he was 18-years-old for everything from DWI and pot possession to assault and shoplifting.

His father is John Dantis , the Bernalillo County Deputy Manager for Public Safety.

John Dantis runs the county jail, fire and rescue, and the place where his son works.

Since 2006 Jamie Dantis has been an office worker at the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Assessment & Treatment Services, a substance abuse facility.

"From a work perspective, he's is doing very well," County Manager Thaddeus Lucero said.

Lucero said he did not know of Jamie Dantis's arrests and that his deputy county manager, John Dantis, has not told him of his son's problems with the law.

Lucero said the arrests do not mean Jamie Dantis should be fired though.

"He hasn't done anything in regards to his work to get him fired," Lucero said. "He's going to work everyday, he is performing, his job evaluations that we reviewed are stellar."

News 13 asked Lucero if Jamie Dantis has kept his job because his father is the boss.

"I do not think there is any ounce of favoritism being played here," Lucero said. "I talked to his dad, Iooked at his record and the reviews, and I don't see favoritism being played here at all."

Lucero said the county does backround checks during the hiring process, but despite Jamie Dantis's arrests for battery, drugs and theft, he was hired.

In the past four years while working for the county, Jamie Dantis has been convicted of assault and arrested three times for shoplifting this year.

County manager Thaddeus Lucero said he will meet with Jamie Dantis Thursday to figure out what, if anything, needs to be done.

News 13 asked Deputy County Manager for Public Safety John Dantis to talk on camera but he declined.

News 13 also tried to reach his son Jamie for comment, but could not track him down.