That Did Not Take Long

My wife asked me, when I first considered publishing the registered sex offender list from the Texas Department of Public Safety, whether I truly thought it was a good idea. She has a way of making me look at issues from every angle, which usually means I take longer to make decisions — something that often keeps me from reacting too quickly.

She said, “You are going to create a controversy with this,” and I assured her she was correct. This would create controversy — but for whom? The victims? No. Their names and identifying information do not appear in the registry data, and for decades it has been my policy, as it is for many news agencies, to keep victims out of coverage. Many of these victims, unfortunately, are minor children.

The convicted? I do not care about the convicted. They lost that right the minute they were found guilty. Until now, the only ones who remembered the convicted were the victims. I believe the sex offender list serves a real purpose; it is simply not viewed by the public often enough.

In just the second week, it appears I have offended a convicted sex offender, as he and several of his family members took to private messages on social media.

“I am not pleased at all to why yall are using my pic to advertise for your paper. I will seek legal services if you do not remove my photo at once. it is causing issues for me and my work,” wrote Paul Barnett, featured in last week’s Sex Offender report.

First, Paul, we are not using your picture to advertise or sell newspapers. Reader revenue makes up roughly five percent of our annual income. Second, did you fail to inform your current employer of your conviction? Let’s move on.

“My family had been contacting me asking if I’m in jail. This had caused major issues for myself and my family. I suggest my Pic be removed at once or I will seek my attorney,” Paul continued. “Are you going to remove my photo from that post. I’m being slammed with text from friends and family concerned if I’m locked up,” he added. Then came: “It’s not right that you think it’s on to just randomly post someone’s mugshot or Pic with out contacting that person first. You really are creating a mess for me . My family has been getting calls asking about it as well.” And finally: “I see already I’m gonna have to contact my attorney Mr Craig Greaves about this. Can’t respond back to this matter or what??”

Well, that was a mouthful. My response — which I initially intended to save for this column but admittedly sent to him directly — was this:

“Your pic, bio, offense and records are public information and have been displayed on a website for years. Of course, it is OK for us to publish any information regarding the sex offender list supplied by the Texas Department of Public Safety. Have your attorney contact me as soon as he figures out how to circumvent the 1st Amendment. And I don’t care what problems this has caused for you; that is just my personal opinion, but if you back up a couple of issues, you will get my full opinion as it is available on our website at: https://www.robconews.com/post/publishing-the-registered-sex-offenders.”

The moment I start feeling any compassion for these offenders, I go back and read their offenses, look at their photos, scroll through their social media profiles — and then I remember their victims. I do not feel sorry for Paul Barnett. I feel sorry for the victims of sex crimes, for the families forced to rebuild their lives. Do I care that Paul Barnett is having difficulties? No, I do not. Where is my compassion? It is, and always will be, with the victims.

One case I will be reporting soon involves a man who raped his daughter for years. It was not until he began grooming his six-year-old grandchild — who was in fact his child, the result of that ongoing abuse — that the daughter finally cried out for help. She received it. But that story is for another time.

Mr. Barnett, I am not sorry, and I do not apologize. Live with it, just as your victim must live with it every day.