Busted Newspaper TX — Official Website, County Pages & How It Works
Busted Newspaper TX is the Texas section of BustedNewspaper.com, a public mugshot and arrest records directory operated by Teabar Publishing. Below is the direct link to the official Texas page, shortcuts to every major county, and everything you need to know about searching, using, and (if needed) removing a listing.
🗺️ Jump Directly to Your Texas County Page
Each Texas county has its own section with the most recent bookings, charges, and mugshots. Click the county you need:
⚠️ Can’t Access Busted Newspaper TX? Try These Fixes First
1. Direct URL — copy-paste bustednewspaper.com/mugshots/texas/ into your browser.
2. Site blocked on your network — try mobile data instead of office/school Wi-Fi (many networks block mugshot sites).
3. Browser cache issue — hard refresh with Ctrl + F5 (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + R (Mac).
4. Ad blocker interference — temporarily pause your ad blocker, since the site is ad-supported.
5. If the site itself is down — try the county Facebook pages such as BustedNewspaper Dallas County TX, which post the same listings.
📋 What This Guide Covers
- What Busted Newspaper TX Actually Is
- How to Search Busted Newspaper Texas
- Site URL Structure (Direct Links Cheat Sheet)
- Busted Newspaper Texas Facebook Pages
- Where the Data Comes From
- Texas Mugshot Law (SB 509) in Plain English
- How to Remove Your Listing (Step-by-Step)
- Expunction vs Nondisclosure in Texas
- Remove the Page from Google Search
- Official Texas Arrest Record Alternatives
- Avoid Mugshot Removal Scams
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Busted Newspaper TX Actually Is
Busted Newspaper TX is the Texas section of BustedNewspaper.com, a privately owned ad-supported website operated by Teabar Publishing. It republishes booking photos and arrest records scraped from Texas county sheriff rosters and clerk of court systems.
It is not a government site, not a law enforcement source, not affiliated with any Texas sheriff’s office, the Texas Department of Public Safety, or the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
Site Snapshot
What Each Listing Contains
- Booking photograph (mugshot) from the county jail
- Full name, age, and date of birth
- Date and time of arrest / booking
- Arresting agency and county of booking
- Charges filed (statute code or plain-language offense)
- Bond amount, if set by the magistrate
- Physical descriptors (height, weight, eye color, hair color)
How to Search Busted Newspaper TX (Step-by-Step)
Go to the Texas landing page
Open bustednewspaper.com/mugshots/texas/ in any browser. This is the gateway to all Texas county listings.
Pick your county from the list
Scroll down — you’ll see every indexed Texas county as a clickable link. Choose the one where the arrest happened. Example: Harris County for Houston, Tarrant for Fort Worth, Travis for Austin.
Browse by date
County pages display the most recent bookings at the top. Listings are typically posted within 24–48 hours of the arrest going live on the official county jail roster.
Search by name using Google
The on-site search is limited. For a specific person, use Google: site:bustednewspaper.com “John Smith” plus the county name. This returns every indexed listing containing that name.
Click a booking for full details
Each listing opens a dedicated page with the mugshot, charges, and booking details. URL format is typically /texas/[lastname-firstname]/YYYYMMDD/.
Busted Newspaper Texas URL Structure (Cheat Sheet)
The site follows a predictable URL pattern. Knowing it lets you jump directly to any county or booking without navigating menus.
Page Type | URL Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
Main site | bustednewspaper.com | Homepage with all states |
Texas landing | /mugshots/texas/ | All Texas counties |
Individual county | /mugshots/texas/[county-name]-county/ | /mugshots/texas/harris-county/ |
Individual booking | /texas/[lastname-firstname]/YYYYMMDD/ | /texas/smith-john/20260215/ |
Category archive | /category/tx-mugshots/tx-[county] | /category/tx-mugshots/tx-brazos |
Removal form | /remove-a-listing/ | bustednewspaper.com/remove-a-listing/ |
Busted Newspaper Texas Facebook Pages
Many Texas counties have a dedicated Busted Newspaper Facebook page operated by Teabar Publishing. Listings are cross-posted from the main website, often with thousands of local followers commenting on each post.
- BustedNewspaper Dallas County TX (33,000+ followers)
- BustedNewspaper Collin County TX (23,000+ followers)
- BustedNewspaper Wise County TX (31,000+ followers)
- BustedNewspaper Brazos County TX
- BustedNewspaper Galveston County TX
Where Busted Newspaper Gets Its Texas Data
Every mugshot on the site originates from a Texas county sheriff’s office or clerk of court public record. The site itself takes no original photographs and files no charges — it aggregates.
The Scraping Chain
Arrest & intake at the county jail
A Texas Commitment Tracking Number (TRN) is generated, fingerprints are rolled, and a booking photograph is captured by the sheriff’s office.
Roster publishes on the county website
The sheriff’s office uploads the booking to their public inmate search portal, usually within 2–6 hours of intake.
Automated scrapers harvest the records
Bots sweep the county roster, extract the photo, name, charges, and DOB, and package the data for republishing.
Auto-publish to Busted Newspaper
Each arrest becomes its own SEO-optimized page indexed under the county category.
Google indexes the page
Within days, the listing appears in Google for searches of the person’s name, frequently on page one.
Texas Mugshot Law (SB 509) in Plain English
Texas has some of the strongest mugshot-site regulations in the United States. Two statutes directly govern what sites like Busted Newspaper can and cannot do with your Texas arrest record.
Law 1 — Texas Business & Commerce Code Chapter 109
- Publishers cannot charge a fee to process a dispute or remove criminal record information
- Publishers must conspicuously display dispute contact information
- Disputes must be verified with law enforcement within 45 days
- Civil penalty: up to $500 per day of continuing violation, plus attorney’s fees
- After notice of expunction or nondisclosure, publishers must stop publishing that record
Law 2 — Texas Senate Bill 509 (Effective 2023)
- Mugshots tied to sealed or expunged records cannot be posted or sold
- Rules apply retroactively — covers mugshots from any date
- Sites must remove records after receiving a written notice with proof
- Statutory damages: the greater of $1,000 per violation or actual damages, plus attorney’s fees and legal costs
⚖️ What This Means For You
If your Texas charges were expunged, sealed, dismissed, not filed, or you were acquitted or pardoned — Busted Newspaper is legally required to remove your listing after receiving a proper written request with documentation, cannot charge you anything, and must comply within 45 days. Non-compliance opens them to per-day penalties and your attorney’s fees.
How to Remove Your Busted Newspaper TX Listing
Three official routes exist, all free. Do all three in parallel for the fastest result.
Route 1 — The Official Removal Form
Locate every URL showing your listing
Google your full name plus “busted newspaper” and your Texas county. Save every URL where your mugshot appears, including the main site and any county Facebook page.
Gather proof documentation
Obtain certified copies of your expunction order, nondisclosure order, dismissal, or not-guilty verdict from the District Clerk’s office in the county where the case was filed. Certified copies typically cost $1–$5 per page plus a $1 certification fee.
Open the official removal form
Go to bustednewspaper.com/remove-a-listing. This is the only official request channel.
Fill in every field accurately
Enter your full legal name exactly as it appears on the listing, phone number for verification callback, the exact URL of the listing, reason for removal, and upload the proof document. Accepted file types: PDF, DOC, JPG, JPEG, TIFF under 3MB.
Screenshot the confirmation
Capture a screenshot of the submitted form confirmation page. No guaranteed email confirmation — the screenshot is your evidence of submission date.
Send a parallel email
Email the same materials to info@bustednewspaper.com. Keep the tone calm and factual — threats backfire.
Wait up to 10 business days
The site states verification and removal can take up to 10 days. After 10 days of no action, move to Route 2.
Route 2 — Certified Letter Under Texas Law
Texas Business & Commerce Code §109 requires publishers to respond to a written dispute within 45 days. A certified letter creates the paper trail for any civil action.
Draft the letter
Include your full name, DOB, the exact URLs, a citation to Texas Business & Commerce Code §109.005 and Government Code §552.1082, your case disposition, and a clear demand for removal within 45 days.
Attach certified documents
Include the certified Order of Expunction or equivalent. Do not send originals — only certified court copies.
Send USPS Certified Mail with Return Receipt
If the site does not publish a mailing address, email is accepted written notice. Keep all tracking receipts.
File a complaint if ignored after 45 days
File with the Texas Attorney General Consumer Protection Division or call (800) 621-0508.
Route 3 — Court-Ordered Expunction
An expunction order under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55A legally destroys the arrest record. Once granted, all agencies and private background-check companies holding the record must destroy or return the records to the court.
Expunction vs Nondisclosure in Texas: Which One?
These are different tools with different effects. Picking the wrong one wastes the $300+ filing fee and months of waiting.
Expunction | Nondisclosure | |
|---|---|---|
Legal Effect | Records destroyed / returned to court | Records sealed from public view |
Governing Law | Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55A | Government Code §411 Subchapter E-1 |
Who Qualifies | Charges not filed, dismissed, acquittal, pardon, mistaken identity, Class C deferred | Certain deferred adjudications and some convictions after waiting period |
Filing Court | District Court in arrest county (usually) | Court where conviction/deferred was entered |
Filing Fee | Approximately $307 | Approximately $280 |
Who Can Still Access | Nobody — records destroyed | Government & certain licensing agencies |
Hearing Required | Yes, ≥30 days after filing | Varies by petition type |
Third-Party Publisher Effect | Must destroy — retroactive | Must remove from public display |
Where to Get Official Forms
- Expunction Petitions: Texas Office of Court Administration
- Nondisclosure Orders: OCA Nondisclosure Forms
- Plain-Language Guide: Texas State Law Library
- Free Legal Self-Help: TexasLawHelp.org Expunction
How to Remove Your Listing from Google Search
Even if Busted Newspaper refuses to take the page down, Google may deindex it from search results under its Exploitative Removal Policy for mugshot sites.
Open Google’s Personal Content Removal tool
Go to Results About You or the Exploitative Removal Form.
Submit the specific URL
Paste the exact Busted Newspaper URL showing your mugshot. One URL per request.
Select “mugshot that depicts you”
Google specifically categorizes mugshot-exploitation sites as eligible for removal.
Provide identity verification
Upload a government photo ID matching the name on the mugshot. Google uses it only to verify the request.
Submit and wait 1–6 weeks
Approved URLs are removed from Google search globally, though the page still exists on Busted Newspaper itself.
Official Texas Arrest Record Alternatives
If you are searching for an arrest record, jail booking, or criminal history in Texas — go straight to the official source. Every record on Busted Newspaper originates from one of these, and most are free.
Official Texas name-based criminal history, $1 per search credit.
Texas DPS Search →State clearinghouse for all Texas criminal history records.
DPS Crime Records →For anyone currently in Texas state prison.
TDCJ Inmate Search →Official public registry from Texas DPS.
TX Sex Offender Registry →Houston-area official jail search.
Harris County JIMS →Dallas County jail roster.
Dallas County Sheriff →Fort Worth-area official jail search.
Tarrant County Search →San Antonio official jail search.
Bexar County Search →Austin-area official inmate roster.
Travis County Search →Expunction & nondisclosure petition forms.
OCA Forms →Free legal self-help guides.
TX Law Library →Free plain-language help and forms.
TexasLawHelp →Texas Department of Public Safety Headquarters
TxDPS Crime Records Division
Texas Department of Public Safety
5805 N. Lamar Blvd
Austin, TX 78752
Access & Dissemination Bureau: (512) 424-2474
Avoid Mugshot Removal Scams
The mugshot removal industry has a long scam history — including the federal Mugshots.com prosecution where operators ran both the publication site AND a paid “removal service” under different brand names. Stay alert.
Red Flags — Walk Away
- Any company claiming a “direct relationship” with mugshot sites
- Upfront fees before any work is performed
- Guarantees of removal from “all sites” without case-specific review
- Demands for full payment before proof of removal
- Emails or calls threatening that your mugshot will “spread” unless you pay
- Any site displaying your mugshot AND offering paid removal — illegal in Texas under §109.005
- Wire transfer, gift card, or crypto payment demands
Green Flags — Legitimate Help
- Pay-for-performance — payment only after confirmed removal
- Published business address and registered agent
- Written contract with specific URLs, deliverables, and timeline
- Willingness to explain the legal basis for each removal attempt
- Referral from a licensed Texas criminal defense attorney
- Transparent pricing — no hidden “monitoring” auto-renewals
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the official URL of Busted Newspaper TX?
The official URL is bustednewspaper.com/mugshots/texas/. Each Texas county has its own page under the pattern /mugshots/texas/[county-name]-county/. Examples: harris-county, dallas-county, tarrant-county, bexar-county, travis-county.
Is Busted Newspaper TX a government or news site?
No. Busted Newspaper is a privately owned ad-supported website operated by Teabar Publishing. It is not affiliated with any Texas sheriff’s office, district attorney, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, or any government agency. It republishes public arrest records scraped from county jail rosters and clerk of court systems.
How often is Busted Newspaper TX updated?
The site is typically updated multiple times per day. Listings appear within 24–48 hours of the original arrest going live on the official county jail roster. Largest counties (Harris, Dallas, Tarrant, Bexar, Travis) receive the most frequent updates.
Why can’t I access Busted Newspaper TX?
Common causes: the site is blocked on your Wi-Fi network (many office, school, and public networks block mugshot sites), your ad blocker is interfering, your browser has cached an old version, or the site is temporarily down. Try mobile data, disable ad blocker, or hard refresh with Ctrl+F5 / Cmd+Shift+R.
How do I search Busted Newspaper TX by name?
The fastest method is Google with a site-restricted search: type site:bustednewspaper.com “Full Name” county-name into Google. Example: site:bustednewspaper.com “John Smith” harris. You can also open the county page directly and browse recent bookings or use Ctrl+F to search within the page.
Is it legal for Busted Newspaper to publish my Texas mugshot?
Under the Texas Public Information Act, booking photos and arrest records become public records when a person is arrested. Private publishers currently have First Amendment and public-record protections to republish. However, Texas SB 509 and Business & Commerce Code §109 regulate the conduct: sites cannot charge fees for removal, cannot continue publishing after receiving notice of expunction or nondisclosure, and must process disputes within 45 days.
Does Busted Newspaper charge a fee to remove a mugshot?
No. Per their published removal policy and Texas Business & Commerce Code §109.005, Busted Newspaper cannot charge a fee to remove mugshots when the request includes proper documentation of expunction, sealing, dismissal, nol pros, or acquittal. Any fee demand violates Texas law and should be reported to the Texas Attorney General.
How long does Busted Newspaper take to remove a listing?
The site states removal can take up to 10 business days after submission of a valid request. Texas Business & Commerce Code §109 gives publishers up to 45 days to verify disputes. Clean submissions with certified court orders are typically processed within 3–14 days.
What is SB 509 and how does it help me?
Texas Senate Bill 509, effective 2023, amended Government Code §552.1082 and closed the loophole mugshot sites used to exploit old arrests. Sites cannot post or sell mugshots tied to sealed or expunged records, the rules apply retroactively to old mugshots, and violators face statutory damages of at least $1,000 per violation plus attorney’s fees.
Can I sue Busted Newspaper if they refuse to remove my listing?
Potentially yes if your case qualifies under Texas statutes. Business & Commerce Code §109.006 allows civil penalties up to $500 per day of continuing violation plus reasonable attorney’s fees. SB 509 provides statutory damages of the greater of $1,000 per violation or actual damages plus attorney’s fees. A Texas criminal defense or consumer-protection attorney can evaluate your case.
Will removing my Busted Newspaper listing also remove it from Google?
Not immediately. Google caches the result for days or weeks after the page is removed. To accelerate, submit the URL to the Google Remove Outdated Content Tool after confirming Busted Newspaper has removed it. If the site refuses, submit directly through Google’s Exploitative Removal Form, which covers mugshot-site content specifically.
Does Busted Newspaper show pending Texas charges?
Yes. The site publishes booking data as it appears on the county jail roster at the time of intake — before any prosecutor decision, grand jury action, or court outcome. If the case is later dismissed, dropped, or results in acquittal, the listing does not auto-update. You must submit a removal request with documentation of the favorable outcome.
Are Texas juvenile mugshots on Busted Newspaper?
They should not be. Texas Family Code §58.253 provides for automatic sealing of qualifying juvenile records and Texas DPS reports only arrests of age 17 and older in the public Criminal History system. If a juvenile mugshot appears, submit the removal form immediately with proof of age at the time of arrest.
What’s the difference between expunction and nondisclosure in Texas?
Expunction under Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55A legally destroys the arrest record — you may legally deny it happened. Nondisclosure under Government Code §411 Subchapter E-1 seals the record from public view but allows government and certain licensing agencies to still access it. Expunction is stronger; nondisclosure applies in more situations including certain deferred adjudications.
How much does it cost to expunge a Texas arrest record?
The court filing fee for a Petition for Expunction is approximately $307, paid to the District Clerk in the county of arrest. Texas criminal defense attorneys typically charge $1,000–$2,500 for an uncontested expunction. If you cannot afford the filing fee, file a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs along with the petition.
Where do I file a Texas expunction petition?
File in the District Court in the county where you were arrested or where the alleged offense occurred. For fine-only offenses the petition may be filed in a justice or municipal court of record. The court schedules a hearing no less than 30 days after filing, notices all listed agencies, and enters the order if the petitioner qualifies under Chapter 55A.
Can an employer see my Busted Newspaper mugshot on a background check?
Most FCRA-regulated professional background-check companies do not use Busted Newspaper as a data source. However, individual recruiters and employers frequently Google candidate names, where a Busted Newspaper listing may appear. This informal background-checking is why removal and suppression matter even when your official background check is clean.
How do I find my Texas mugshot for free through official channels?
Start with the sheriff’s office of the county where you were booked — most Texas counties maintain free online inmate search portals (Harris, Dallas, Tarrant, Bexar, Travis all offer this). The Texas DPS Criminal History Search charges $1 per search credit. Reviewing your complete criminal history requires a fingerprint-based Review request through TxDPS, typically $10 plus fingerprint capture.
Last Updated: April 2026 · Next Scheduled Review: July 2026