Convicted murderer and former police chief Grant Hardin is scheduled to appear in Izard County Circuit Court on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. in connection with a new charge of second-degree escape.
The hearing is an omnibus proceeding that was originally set for late 2025 but later rescheduled. A three-day jury trial is currently slated to begin the following day, Wednesday, February 18.
Hardin is currently serving an 80-year sentence for murder and rape. The new charge stems from his May 25, 2025 escape from the North Central Unit in Calico Rock, where authorities say he allegedly impersonated a corrections officer and walked out of a secure gate in broad daylight.
The nearly two-week manhunt ended after Hardin was located approximately 1.5 miles from the prison near Moccasin Creek. High water levels in the area had previously hindered search efforts.
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders praised the coordinated capture effort, thanking local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. Hardin was later transferred to the Varner Supermax Unit, Arkansas’ most secure correctional facility, where he remains in custody.
The escape prompted calls for investigation and reform from state lawmakers. A letter sent to the Arkansas Board of Corrections called for accountability and a review of what legislators described as systemic flaws in prison security procedures.
The Arkansas Department of Corrections has expressed appreciation for public assistance during the search and stated that efforts are underway to ensure similar incidents do not occur in the future.
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