Halstead Administrator Who Was Also a Former Stevens County Officer Resigns

KAKE – Halstead’s City Administrator has resigned, two months after he was arrested on perjury charges.

The Halstead City Council accepted J.R. Hatfield’s resignation during a special meeting last Friday.

Hatfield served as City Administrator in Halstead for about 19 years, but was arrested in August after a lengthy investigation which included the KBI. He’s accused of signing a document confirming the retirement of Police Chief Steven Lewis, but not giving a required explanation for it.

Lewis was arrested in Stevens County in late August, on charges of misusing public funds to purchase ammunition. But affidavits filed in the case in September indicate Lewis was under investigation for abusing a co-worker.

It is unclear who is fulfilling Hatfield’s job duties at this time. The next scheduled Halstead City Council meeting will be November 14.