What Others Do, I Can Do Too
- Dennis Phillips
- Oct 7
- 2 min read
I was reading a local paper recently—one owned by a friend who operates 18 to 20 community newspapers—and my jaw dropped when I saw a feature I’d never seen before.
We’ve all talked about it over the years, but I’ve never seen a newspaper actually do it: a feature called “Sex Offender of the Week.”
All convicted sex offenders in Texas are required to register with local law enforcement, and that information is made public through the Texas Department of Public Safety. The registry lists the offender’s name, address, photo, and conviction details, and it’s updated regularly. Noncompliance can result in felony prosecution.
The paper selects one individual each week and publishes their TXDPS-verified information. Naturally, this has sparked debate—some argue it’s a public service and a newspaper’s duty to inform, while others, often family members of offenders, feel it’s unfair or exploitative, especially in older cases.
As publishers, we’ve toyed with this idea for decades, usually opting instead to refer readers to the state’s website. After all, it already provides a map of offenders living nearby.
The Gray Area
I once saw the system fail a family I knew well. A teenage stepdaughter fabricated an accusation to remove her stepfather from the home. Facing prison, he accepted a plea deal, and his name remains on the registry. It’s a tragic example of how not every case tells the full story.
Still, I believe 98% of the listings are justified, and those offenders should absolutely be exposed.
Should I Do It?
Longtime readers know I’ve never shied away from printing the names of convicted sex offenders—front page, top of the fold, if it helps protect even one child. But making it a weekly feature is something I’m still considering.
If I do it, I’ll ensure those highlighted truly belong there. Parents and residents deserve to know who lives among them. For example, did you know there are 36 registered sex offenders in Hearne?
Here’s what such a feature might look like (I was not going to offer an example, but then I saw the photo of Terrance Kennard Freeman, smiling and that was all I needed.):
Hearne Man Remains on Lifetime Sex Offender Registry
Dennis Phillips
Robertson County News
HEARNE — A Hearne man remains classified as a moderate-risk offender on the Texas Sex Offender Registry following verification by the Hearne Police Department on July 14, 2025.
According to the registry, Terrance Kennard Freeman, 31, of 1101 S. San Felipe Street in Hearne, must register annually for life following a 2021 federal conviction involving child pornography under statute 18 U.S.C. 2252A.
Freeman was sentenced to federal probation on September 9, 2021.
He is described as a Black male, 5 feet 9 inches tall, 150 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. His most recent photo was updated in July 2025.
Failure to comply with registry rules can result in felony prosecution.
To report tips or suspicious activity, contact Robertson County Crime Stoppers at (800) 299-0191. --
What do you think—should Robertson County News run “Sex Offender of the Week”?
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