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Read comments (21)Billy Hardin entered a plea of guilty to counts two and three - simple assault, amended from the charge of sexual battery and patronizing prostitution within a mile and a half of a school. Count one, official misconduct, a class E felony, was dismissed in consideration of the pleas for the two other offenses, which are considered misdemeanors.
Hardin was sentenced on both the assault and prostitution charges to 11 months, 29 days, to serve seven days for each count concurrently, plus pay court costs. He also received 11 months, 29 days probation on both charges.
The commissioner was ordered to report to the Moore County jail on Sunday, Nov. 2 at 7 p.m.
Hardin was indicted by a Bedford County grand jury after being bound over in June. During a preliminary hearing before Judge Andy Myrick of Fayetteville, Shelbyville police detective Brian Crews testified his department had audio recordings of Hardin negotiating prices for various sex acts.
During the hearing, Crews testified that the assault victim came to him upset about what she claimed transpired at the Bedford County Jail in Hardin's office on March 8 of this year.
The woman claimed she had gone to the jail to check on a warrant with the commissioner and had been sexually assaulted. Crews said the victim claimed that Hardin touched her in a sexual manner against her permission.
The victim told Crews she managed to push Hardin away and claimed that the commissioner mentioned paying money in exchange for sexual favors. She also claimed that Hardin said that if she told anyone what had happened, he would hear about it.
The victim was asked by investigators to wear a body wire, and to bring up the March 8 incident with Hardin at his office. Crews testified that the recording contained Hardin saying he would get in touch with the woman later that day about a meeting.
A recorded phone call has Hardin wanting to meet the woman at her home. In the call, she told Hardin she would only be alone for a period of one hour. Following that call, Crews said police wired the woman's house for sound while Shelbyville police detective Sgt. Jason Williams hid inside the home in a closet.
Crews testified that according to the recordings made inside the woman's home, the topic of money came up again, with Hardin allegedly saying that "I don't know how much you're expecting for this ... if you're wanting $100, 150, you're way out of line."
Crews said the recordings indicated that Hardin offered $25 for oral sex. Hardin placed the money on a coffee table and police entered moments later, with Crews testifying that Hardin had his pants down when they came in.
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green in '08
This is very normal for anyone, not just officials, to take a plea and get convicted of a lesser offense. As for the question about why the offer was so low, well you will have to foward that question to the district attorney's office. I will be willing to bet that the officers involved in the case wern't happy about the deal. I never claimed to know everything. Everything I said is factual and can easily be proven.I can't tell you how the victim feels nor will I try to guess.
bedford32
From your comments, it sounds like you have a good knowledge of this case, what the truth is, what happened, what could have happened, how Mr. Hardin feels, how his co-workers and family feels, so do you also know how we all feel?
Is this normal that officials accused of crimes get to pick to take a plea when there is so much evidence? He gets to pick if the evidence is heard by the court? Why did they offer such a low plea if the evidence was so good?
Since you know everything else, you probably know how the victim feels too. I can only imagine that she feels let down by the officers that asked her to set up Mr. Hardin, only to have him accept "a great deal for him" as you said.
justice_for_all
You said that not one single judge in this county wanted to hear this case.The truth is that only one judge had to recuse himself from this case which was his former employer, Judge Rich. His case was bound over to the Grand Jury which did make it a felony which in turn would have to be heard in circuit court. He had better be glad that this case wasn't heard by a circuit judge and then sentenced, he would be in jail alot longer than 14 days. The facts are that it's over, he took a plea that was a great deal for him, he embarassed the people he worked for and his family and now he wants to complain. He didn't have to take a plea. He could have very easily let the court hear the evidence (tapes) that the police department had obtained but he did at least have enough sense not to do that. That would have let the truth come out and you know we couldn't have that. Billy you would be better off to just let it go.
What I think sounds fishy is, after being assaulted, she then had to meet with her attacker again at her home. What's up with that? What if every victim of a crime had to ask the criminal to come over to their house while the police hid in the closet? Is this normal? I hope not. How many of us think that we would be able to pull off such a set-up after just being attacked?
For some reason, he thought that he would be welcomed into her home?? After just attacking her??
Sounds more logical that they had a "hook-up" arranged, then as it was about to occur, she brought up wanting money. Anyway, whatever happened, he shouldn't have been there in the first place. But, how many of us know someone that has cheated? What should the punishment be for cheating? I guess it's hard to say if you haven't been there. I haven't, so I'll reserve my opinion.
If it was just a hook-up / set-up / arrest, then will there be future set-ups and arrests for officials that have affairs on their spouses?
Let this be a lesson to Mr. Hardin...everything has its price and even some things are just not negotiable. The 14 days he will spend in jail is nothing compared to the lifetime of torment he will endure for his own actions. I do feel a great deal of compassion for his family members for the embarrassment and shame he has brought upon them. As far as his position with the county, I commend Detective Crews and his staff for putting an end to this reign of terror this preditor has brought upon who knows how many women before he was actually caught. I hope this is an eye opener for any other public officials who feel they have an authority of power because of the public office they hold,whether it is a judicial or executive office. Lord only knows how many people have done this and got away with it???
According to the Times-Gazette, Mr. Harden got caught with his pants down in this woman's apartment. Was he doing that for his family also? I'm sure he really had their best interest at heart when he showed up at the woman's door. These evil detectives who spread such malicious, degrading lies on this poor man should be ashamed, and yes, I'm sure they will get their reward.(ha) How blind can anyone be who cannot see or understand that people don't get arrested and charged for crimes unless there is sufficient evidence to prove their illegal activity? This man was not a victim he was a criminal. Let's call it what it is . . . WRONG regardless of who you are!
Ha Ha Ha I said it at the very begining of all this that Mr. Hardin would take a plea bargain in this case because he didnt want all of the proof coming out in the case. And as for "justce for all", I agree with your statement that Mr. Hardin took the plea to protect his family, but it was clearly just to protect them from any further embarassment. He didnt want to be exposed in open court for what he really is, a horny old pervert who obviously thought that he was above prosecution. If Mr. Hardin really cared about his family he wouldn't have been caught with his pants down, litteraly! If Mr. Hardins wife is still with him after all of this, I would like to say to her that she is the true victim in all of this mess, and that only she knows the true meaning of loyalty, and love that so few of us has in this day and time.
Will he have to register as a sex offender? I guess not since the charge was simple assault, amended from the charge of sexual battery and patronizing prostitution within a mile and a half of a school.
How pathetic!
Why do police officers use their time and talents to catch these perverted people only to see them get off basically scot free. The irony of this situation is that the courts let him plead guilty of the lesser crimes and had the felony charge dropped. I feel justice would have been better served if he had been made to pay for the greater charge and dropped the lesser. How are people adequately punished or rehabilitated in this way? This criminal is probably playing checkers with the Barney Fife's of Moore County, laughing at the officers who arrested him, and soliciting favors from the Moore County women. There is no wonder that people do not show law enforcement officers more respect, when the judicial system undermines their hard work. The
American people are getting fed up with a lot of things and the way the systems has always worked in the past, it's time we speak up and put a stop to practices such as this also. America will never be safer until we ensure that crimes are punished and the criminal element is put away out of reach of the general public.
Well and Justice for All. Didnt we know this was gonna happen. Talk about corrupt.
Are you kidding me? I have a friend convicted on 2 misdemeanors & a class D Felony purely on circumstantial evidence (he said she said). The person who HURT her used to be a bondsman here. He is now a crack addict who served time for the same misdemeanors.
Do you think she was offered 2 weeks to drop the felony? She was only offered 3 years which is what she got in the trial anyway!!
Then, at sentencing, a guy who stabbed someone 14 times is set free... A girl who robbed TennCare and sold morphine and other drugs will serve only a few days. My friend who may very well have been a victim instead of a criminal, who has a much better work history in health care, must still serve 3 years. The court thinks her offense is serious, what about these others!!! Its all about who you know and the predjudice of the courts.. We are suppose to be a land of liberty and justice, but sadly, we are not here in Shelbyville.
Actually, he is only serving 7 days in jail...the jail terms are CONCURRENT meaning served at the same time.
Wheelbillie, you would probably have had felony charges not misdemeanor.
Oh one more question, if I may???
If it were a normal person, would the charges stayed the same or would they of been drop like he got?????
Was just wondering why he got special treatment?
I want to know?? Will he still have his job after he gets out of doing his time??????
He plead guilty to the lesser charges to save his own butt. PLAIN and SIMPLE!
No judge in this county tried this case due to the fact that Mr. Hardin was an employee of the county and set bonds for many of the people that go before the judges in this county.
Where has coomon sense gone in this day and age?
He did not plead guilty because he was not guilty and in order to "save face". He plead guilty to the lesser charges because it netted in much less time than the much harsher charges would have offered if found guilty. A man does not plead guilty if he is not guilty.
Why is everyone worried about who this woman is/was? Again, plain and simple she was the victim, no matter her past, and should be treated as such. Why is she being persecuted for any of this. As all the stories have been presented, he solicited the sex from her. She did not offer it to him first. If I recall correctly, she was there to check the status of a warrant she had signed on someone else. How would her offering sexual favors to Mr. Hardin offer any gain to the victim?
The BIG question is how many times has Mr. Hardin used his position of authority to gain sexual favors? Each of you should be more worried about that!
QUOTE: " Hardin was sentenced on both the assault and prostitution charges to 11 months, 29 days, to serve seven days for each count concurrently, plus pay court costs. He also received 11 months, 29 days probation on both charges. "
It would have been nice if he had received more than a slap on the hand for his crimes.
If you are INNOCENT you dont plead guilty! You people kill me..."he did it for his family...right that is crap! If you are innocent then you fight for you and your family not lay down like a dog! The truth is dont do the crime if you cant do the time, he got busted at least he saved the taxpayers the expense of a trial which would have ended up with the same result GUILTY!!!!
Be Happy, at least he finally got caught!!! I am so sorry for his family, they are good people! May God Bless them through all of this. They are the ones that will suffer, not Mr. Harden. Family, keep your head up, You will get through this.
No, he is not being paid....poor victim, a prostitute operating close to a school....last I heard prostition was a crime....When is she being charged, or did the Task Force work out a deal with her, too. By the way, now that it is over, who is she??? Is she raising children in her home. The real story should come out ....maybe one day it will and those responsible for this set up will get theirs. Just remember no one ever got to hear his side. He did what he did (took the plea) for his family. Wonder why not one single judge in this county wanted to hear this trial. They opted out. Why is that? Could they not judge him fairly or was it they knew more than they should about the case. I thought one was always innocent until proven guilty....not in this county. Mr. Hardin was convicted when the first story came out giving graphic details (from the detectives side only). I live in an evil town where there is no justice for the common man. What goes around comes around and I truly hope every ones dirty laundry and skeletons come out. Sounds like someone on the Task Force and a couple of Detectives did a great job destroying a man's reputation and career...
Go figure!!!!!! Any one else would have had felony charges on them, but not him!!In Beford county it is so much who you know as to what you will get away with.
WOW !!
14 days in jail for these offenses.
"Count one, official misconduct, a class E felony, was dismissed in consideration of the pleas for the two other offenses, which are considered misdemeanors."
Nice job Mr Prosecutor ! Drop felony charges because he pleaded guilty to misdemeanors. Im sure the victim was whole heartily in favor of that move.
I notice the article consistently refers to the now convicted Billy Harden as "a Bedford County judicial commissioner"
Does this mean that he is still being paid by the taxpayers of Bedford County ????