That's your prerogative.
The only person who holds him in any sort of high regard appears to be you. And that is your prerogative, although your reasons appear laughable. i.e. that he was running from a long jail term.
You remind me of Captain Rum in Blackadder:
Edmund: I was under the impression that it was common maritime practice for a ship to have a crew.
Rum: Opinion is divided on the subject.
Edmund: Oh, really?
Rum: Yesss. All the other captains say it is; I say it isn't.
Edmund: Oh, God; Mad as a brush.