ANDERSON — A grand jury on Thursday indicted Madison County Commissioner Jeff Hardin on a single count of misdemeanor disorderly conduct, stemming from an altercation he had with his daughter in April.

The grand jury reviewed evidence and heard testimony during the single-day closed hearing. It went into deliberations at about 4:50 p.m. and returned with its decision about 45 minutes later, according to Special Prosecutor J.A. Cummins.

The charge, a Class B misdemeanor, is punishable by up to six months behind bars and a fine of up to $5,000, if he’s convicted. Hardin’s arraignment has not yet been scheduled.

“They went the way we wanted them to go,” Hardin said late Thursday. “With the confinement, them being dropped, we’re happy about that. We knew we were right from the beginning, that we had a right to get our daughter and protect her.”

Cummins did not comment directly about the indictment, but commended the grand jury for its efforts. The same grand jurors also heard the case against Anderson City Councilman Ollie Dixon.

“I really thank the grand jury for the job they did in both of these cases,” Cummins said. “They’re a wonderful group of seven people who worked really hard.”

Hardin’s attorney, Bryan Williams of Anderson, said he was not surprised by the grand jury’s decision.

“I would have been surprised had they indicted him for anything involving his daughter, given the circumstances,” Williams said.

Madison County sheriff’s deputies arrested Hardin, 51, Alexandria, shortly before 7 a.m. April 20, at a home in the 3700 block of Gemini Drive, Alexandria. He was taken into custody on suspicion of misdemeanor battery and disorderly conduct, and felony criminal confinement involving his 18-year-old daughter.

According to an affidavit, police reports and Hardin’s comments to The Herald Bulletin on Thursday:

Sheriff’s deputies arrived at the Gemini Drive home to find Hardin sitting on his daughter’s legs and pinning her shoulders down while she sat in the passenger side of Hardin’s vehicle.

The young woman told Deputy Brett Wright she got into an argument with her parents three days earlier and left home. She had been staying with her friend at the Gemini Drive residence since.

Hardin said he and his wife, Anderson police Officer Suzan Hardin, learned their daughter was staying at the home. In court documents, the Gemini residence was listed as the 18-year-old’s address. Hardin said his daughter has always lived at the family’s home.

The morning of April 20, the young woman said her parents came to the residence. She went to the front door and told her father she was going to school and didn’t want to speak to him then. She told him she’d talk to him later. She said Hardin then grabbed her by the arm, and told her she was coming home. The young woman told Hardin she was 18 and did not have to go with him.

The teen said “she dropped to the ground to get away from Mr. Hardin at which time Mr. Hardin fell on top of her and pinned her to the ground,” the affidavit reads. “(The teen) stated she attempted to get away from Mr. Hardin, when he slapped her in the right side of her face. (The young woman) stated that Mr. Hardin then picked her up and tossed her into the passenger side seat of Mr. Hardin’s vehicle.”

Hardin’s daughter’s female friend, also 18, confirmed the teen’s story, as did the friend’s mother. Both women witnessed the incident. However, neither woman testified before the grand jury, Cummins said.

According to Wright’s affidavit, Hardin identified himself as being a police officer three times. Hardin is a former Marion County sheriff’s deputy and Anderson police officer, but no longer works in law enforcement. Hardin denied telling Wright he is an officer.

“I told him I am a former police officer,” Hardin said. “I didn’t tell him that.”

Also according to court documents Hardin also told Wright that Wright could not arrest him because he is an officer and serves as a county commissioner. Hardin denied saying that as well.

“I can only say that’s not the truth,” the commissioner said. “I did not make that statement.

“I didn’t say he couldn’t arrest me,” he continued. “I wasn’t trying to make any power play or anything like that.”

Hardin, a Democrat, is in his first term representing the county’s Middle District on the Board of Commissioners. He served on the Madison County Council from 1992 through 2008.

Hardin said he appreciated the support he said he and his family received following his arrest.

“We were just in what we were doing,” he said. “I’m just grateful for all the community, the parents and family and friends who have supported me and my family.”



Contact Shawn McGrath: 640-4883, shawn.mcgrath@heraldbulletin.com



What’s next?

Madison County Commissioner Jeff Hardin will make an initial court appearance on a single charge of misdemeanor disorderly conduct at a later date. His arraignment in Madison Circuit Court has not yet been scheduled.