Convicted Felon Receives Additional Sentence for Arkansas Prison Escape

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A convicted felon named Grant Hardin, who was already serving an 80-year sentence for rape and murder, has received an additional 13-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to second-degree escape. Hardin briefly escaped from the Arkansas Department of Corrections North Central Unit in Calico Rock in May 2025 before being recaptured less than two miles from the prison about two weeks later.

Why it matters

Hardin's escape and additional conviction highlights the challenges prisons face in maintaining security and preventing inmates from fleeing, especially those serving lengthy sentences for violent crimes. The case also draws attention to Hardin's past as a former law enforcement officer who later committed serious felonies.

The details

Grant Hardin, a 58-year-old convicted felon, pleaded guilty in Izard County Circuit Court to second-degree escape after briefly escaping from the Arkansas Department of Corrections North Central Unit in Calico Rock in May 2025. Hardin was already serving an 80-year sentence for rape and murder convictions when he managed to briefly flee the prison before being recaptured less than two miles away about two weeks later.

• Hardin escaped from the Arkansas prison in May 2025.
• Hardin was recaptured about two weeks later, less than two miles from the prison.

What’s next

The judge will determine whether Hardin will be eligible for parole on his new 13-year sentence.