Update: This article was updated Aug. 13 after Fort Sill Public Affairs confirmed Hardin was a staff sergeant serving in a support role and was not a drill sergeant. Fort Sill said his duties did not involve working with trainees.
A Fort Sill Soldier whose child sexual abuse investigation involved U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division agents is serving a nine-year state prison sentence after pleading guilty to three felony charges involving a minor and child sexual abuse material.
Henry Allen Hardin, 36, pleaded guilty July 20 in Comanche County District Court to lewd or indecent acts to a child under 16, making, preparing or distributing child sexual abuse material, and possessing child sexual abuse material.
Fort Sill Public Affairs confirmed to The Salty Soldier that Hardin was a staff sergeant assigned to the 95th Adjutant General Battalion (Reception), 434th Field Artillery Brigade, at the time of his arrest.
Edward “Ed” Muñiz, acting director of Public Affairs for the Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill, said Hardin served in a support role and was not a drill sergeant.
“We can confirm that he was not a drill sergeant and his duties did not involve working with trainees,” Muñiz told The Salty Soldier.
Judge Jay Walker sentenced Hardin to nine years in the Oklahoma Department of Corrections on the lewd or indecent acts charge and seven years for making or distributing child sexual abuse material. The seven-year term runs concurrently with the nine-year sentence.
Hardin also received a 15-year suspended sentence for possession of child sexual abuse material, ordered consecutive to the nine-year term, along with two years of DOC supervision. He received credit for 228 days already served and was ordered to register as a sex offender within 10 days of release.
Oklahoma Department of Corrections records reviewed by The Salty Soldier list Hardin as an active offender. He entered state custody July 30 and is currently housed at the Lexington Assessment and Reception Center.
The investigation involved both Army CID and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.
In December 2025, The Lawton Constitution reported in “Army, state investigators nab Elgin man for child sex abuse videos” that Army CID special agents received a report Nov. 19 alleging Hardin had made child sexual abuse videos involving two teenage girls.
Citing a probable-cause affidavit, the newspaper reported that investigators recovered cellphone videos showing the girls in various states of undress in a bathroom and bedroom. OSBI Special Agent Jake Glazner reportedly stated that one video showed Hardin touching one girl’s bare breast and that Hardin’s face was visible.
The newspaper also reported that Army CID agents interviewed Hardin and that he admitted recording the videos at his home. OSBI investigators later searched the Elgin-area residence and recovered bedding and clothing investigators said appeared in the recordings.
Hardin initially pleaded not guilty March 16 and was placed on an August/September jury docket. He later moved toward a plea, briefly backed away from changing his plea, and ultimately returned to court July 20, where he was found competent and voluntarily pleaded guilty. Walker accepted the pleas and the district attorney’s sentencing recommendation.
The Army’s Office of Special Trial Counsel was aware of Hardin’s case but deferred the matter back to his command after local authorities decided to prosecute him.
Michelle McCaskill, OSTC director of communications, told The Salty Soldier that when the county decided to prosecute Hardin, OSTC deferred his case back to the command. McCaskill directed further questions regarding Hardin to Fort Sill Public Affairs.
Fort Sill subsequently confirmed Hardin’s rank and assignment while clarifying that he did not serve as a drill sergeant or work with trainees.
Because the case was prosecuted by the local district attorney following a joint investigation, Muñiz said Fort Sill defers questions regarding the investigation, trial and sentencing to the Comanche County District Attorney’s Office, Army CID and OSBI.
It remains unclear whether Hardin’s command took separate administrative, personnel or disciplinary action against him following the investigation or conviction, as well as what his current Army status is while serving his state prison sentence.
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