BEDFORD, IN — A local man is facing a Level 5 felony charge after an investigation by the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department revealed he allegedly failed to disclose a social media account required under the terms of the Indiana Sex or Violent Offender Registry (SVOR).
Terry J. Browning, 37, of Bedford, is accused of failure to register as a sex or violent offender. Because Browning has a prior conviction for the same offense in 2015, the new charge has been elevated to a Level 5 felony.
The investigation began in late May 2025, when a local mother approached the Sheriff’s Department with concerns. She reported that Browning—who she had previously dated—was in active communication with her 14-year-old daughter via text and Snapchat.
According to the probable cause affidavit filed by Detective Andrea Tedrow, the mother provided a screenshot of a Snapchat account with the username “browning254178.”
As an “Offender Against Children” on the state registry, Browning is legally required to disclose all internet identifiers, including social media handles and email addresses, to the SVOR Coordinator.
On a “Change of Information” form signed by Browning on May 21, 2025, he reportedly initialed “No Change” regarding his internet usernames. At that time, his only registered accounts were an Xbox Live gamertag and a Gmail address.
Detective Tedrow obtained a search warrant for the Snapchat account “browning254178.” Data returned by Snapchat confirmed the account was created in October 2023, nearly two years before Browning claimed to have “no changes” to his digital profile.
The Snapchat data linked the account directly to Browning’s personal phone number, his registered email address, and his birthdate. Additionally, investigators discovered 89 images of Browning on the account, including photos documenting his visits to various health appointments.
The affidavit notes that even as late as November 2025, during an in-person update with the SVOR coordinator, Browning reportedly maintained that there were no changes to be made to his registration information.
Under Indiana Code 11-8-8-17, registered offenders must provide accurate and timely updates regarding their residence, employment, and digital identities. Failure to do so is a serious breach of monitoring protocols designed to protect the community.
Detective Tedrow requested a warrant for Browning’s arrest. Browing was detained on February 19th.
According to registry records, Browning’s original registry requirement was set to expire on March 21, 2026; however, this new felony charge could lead to significant prison time and an extension of his monitoring requirements if he is convicted.
All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This article is based on the information provided in the probable cause affidavit and does not represent a final determination of guilt or innocence.
