WHARTON COUNTY — The Texas Department of Public Safety currently lists 169 registered sex offenders in Wharton County, giving the county a per-capita rate considerably higher than the Texas average.
With Wharton County’s population estimated at approximately 42,000, the current total equals about one registered sex offender for every 249 residents, or approximately 402 per 100,000 people.
By comparison, the statewide rate is approximately one registered sex offender for every 412 Texas residents. Based on those figures, Wharton County’s per-capita rate is about 65% higher than the state average.
The countywide number includes registrants throughout Wharton County, not only those living within the Wharton city limits. The DPS results include reported addresses in Wharton, El Campo, East Bernard, Boling, Louise, Hungerford and other communities across the county. Some records may also list a person as incarcerated, living outside the state or without a conventional residential address.
The registry includes people convicted or adjudicated for offenses that require registration under Texas law. Those offenses vary and may include sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, indecency with a child, possession of child pornography and certain offenses involving online solicitation or sexual conduct.
Some people may also be required to register because of an out-of-state conviction, a court order or registration requirements imposed as part of their supervision.
Being listed does not mean a person is currently accused of a new offense. It means the person remains subject to registration requirements connected to a previous conviction, adjudication or court order.
Registry totals can change regularly. A person may move into or out of the county, complete a registration requirement, become incarcerated or have an address or registration status updated by law enforcement. For that reason, the 169 results represent a snapshot of the DPS registry as of August 12, 2026.
The registry is intended to provide the public with information about people who are required to register. Residents can search by name, address, ZIP code or county through the Texas Department of Public Safety’s online Sex Offender Registry.
DPS warns that registry information may not be used to threaten, intimidate or harass anyone listed. The agency also recommends checking individual records for the most recent address and registration information.
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