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.
The Army’s Office of Special Trial Counsel confirmed to The Salty Soldier that Hardin was a Soldier assigned to Fort Sill. The Salty Soldier has information indicating Hardin was a staff sergeant and serving as a drill sergeant around the time of the criminal case, although Fort Sill has not confirmed his rank, unit or specific duty assignment.
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 to Fort Sill Public Affairs.
The Salty Soldier believes Hardin was a staff sergeant serving as a drill sergeant during the period relevant to the criminal case, but Fort Sill has not yet confirmed his rank, unit or duty assignment.
OSTC’s decision to defer the case does not establish whether Hardin’s command later took administrative, personnel or disciplinary action against him. His current Army status following his felony convictions and imprisonment also remains unclear.
The Salty Soldier contacted Fort Sill Public Affairs seeking confirmation of Hardin’s rank, unit and duty position, including whether he served as a drill sergeant, and offered the installation an opportunity to provide a statement.
Fort Sill Public Affairs has not responded.
The Salty Soldier will update this report if additional information is provided.
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