Judge denies convicted murderer’s request

BENTONVILLE — Benton County Circuit Judge Robin Green has denied an attempt by a convicted killer to withdraw his guilty plea.

Grant Hardin, 49, pleaded guilty in October to first-degree murder and was sentenced to 30 years in prison. He was originally charged with capital murder, but agreed to plead guilty to the lesser charge under a deal with prosecutors.

He admitted Oct. 16 to shooting and killing James Appleton, 59, while he sat in his pickup on Feb. 23, 2017.

Hardin filed a motion last month asking for more time to file a petition to withdraw the murder plea on the basis that he received ineffective assistance from his lawyer.

Hardin claims in his petition he told Shane Wilkinson, his attorney, shortly after the plea he wanted to withdraw it. He said Wilkinson told him there are no allowances by law to withdraw the plea.

Hardin claimed he couldn’t file the petition because of difficulties while in the Benton County Jail and then in prison in Calico Rock.

The judge filed an order last week denying Hardin’s petition.

Thomas Allgood, deputy prosecutor, filed a response seeking the denial. The response claims Hardin’s request should be denied because the time frame had passed for him to file a petition concerning ineffective assistance of counsel.

Hardin also faces charges in connection with the 1997 rape of a then-Rogers school teacher. He has pleaded not guilty to three counts of rape, sexual abuse and kidnapping.

Hardin’s arrest came after his DNA was linked to the Rogers case.

Hardin was the Gateway police chief from January 2016 to May 2016.

Hardin