Texas Registrant Forced to Post Sign at Home
A Texas pastor who plead guilty to possessing child pornography was handed an unorthodox sentence. In addition to the probation and other “sex offender conditions” he will have to serve, the court ordered that he post a sign at his residence saying, “A person on probation for a child sex offense lives here.”
The man is responsible for paying for and maintaining the sign, which must be at least 16 inches tall and 32 inches wide, made from weather-proof and reflective material and have lettering at least 2 1/2 inches high. Much like a traffic sign.
In Bradford County, Florida, the Sheriff’s office posts their own signs at the residences of sexual predators, but in this case, the man has to pay for it himself and purchase it from one of a list of State endorsed vendors.
There is no evidence that posting signs at residences has contributed to public safety.
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I saw another case out of Texas on the news today that is very harsh. Doesn’t involve a CSC, but it’s about a woman being sent to prison for voting before her sentence was completed. https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/30/politics/texas-woman-voting-illegally/index.html
These laws barring felons from voting make no sense at all. As the woman pointed out in an interview, since we all pay taxes, we should all be allowed to vote. That was the complaint during the original Boston Tea Party, the unfairness of taxation without representation. Wouldn’t it be nice if the current Tea Party people would stand up for everyone’s right to vote.
This seems very harsh for someone who had 50 images on his computer. Why is publically shaming someone like this desirable as compared to intensive counseling? Why invite vigilantes to an offender’s home? What purpose does that serve? No child will be saved by this kind of punishment.
I barely use this word anymore, but I “hope” he appeals this absolutely absurd draconian sentence.
The problem with appealing a sentence is that it means you can get resentenced to something worse. I suspect he will just be thankful that he doesn’t have to go to prison.
Wow. I’m speechless. When people see “child sex offense,” they will automatically think the worst as they have been programmed to do by the media and so-called “authorities.” I fear for this man’s safety.
How is this allowed? This is singling out a sub class of citizenry for unequal treatment under the law. Having to post a “No candy or treats here” sign once a year is bad enough, but this sign is Old Testament style punishment.
WOW !! Talk about a “TARGET” on your back. A knock on your door at 10pm, you answer it and BOOM…… your shot. Or mowing your lawn, or getting groceries.
The man is 79-years-old and could have gotten 10 years in prison, probably a life sentence for him. I’m sure the whole community already knows by now where he lives anyway. When questioned by police, Rankin told police he kept the child porn “to remind himself of what other people like to look at,” according to the warrant.
https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/northeast-tarrant/article217506225.html
So it doesn’t seem like he was very remorseful. As disgusting as posting such signs is, I think he got off lightly. The judge shamed him because he showed no shame himself in what he admittedly did.
Rubbish.
He is being publicly shammed and instances such as this give seeming “legitimacy” to this sort of shamming which is exactly what the sex offender registry is all about!
It doesn’t work except to show vigilantes the exact location of THEIR NEXT VICTIM and deceive the public into thinking that ALL those labelled as “sex offenders” need to be publicly watched for their child’s safety which is yet another myth/lie used by the media, politicians, and law enforcement!