Judge Apologizes for Sharing Anchor's Wedding Photo
Jefferson County Justice of the Peace Ben Collins Sr. posted an image from the ceremony before the couple announced their marriage.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Weddings
Jefferson County Justice of the Peace Ben Collins Sr., who officiated the ceremony, shared a photo of the wedding of 12News Beaumont anchor Claydra Rhodes and Karlton Johnson on Facebook. The couple had held an intimate ceremony ahead of a larger planned celebration and had not yet announced the marriage.
Why it matters
The post drew public attention to a private milestone before the couple could share it on their own terms, raising questions about how officials handle personal information from ceremonies they perform. The episode also involves a local television anchor and an elected judge in the Beaumont area.
Collins shared the photo on Facebook earlier in the day, and his apology followed about one hour after Rhodes posted her statement. Both the apology and the original post featuring the wedding photo have since been deleted.
The players
Ben Collins Sr.
Ben Collins Sr. is a Jefferson County Justice of the Peace who has held the position since 2019 and officiated the wedding.
Claydra Rhodes
Claydra Rhodes is a 12News Beaumont anchor who was promoted to evening co-anchor in February 2025 after joining the station through Tegna's Producer in Residence program.
The details
Collins shared a photo from the couple's ceremony on Facebook before the marriage was announced. Rhodes later posted a statement saying the couple lost the chance to share the news themselves, and Collins responded with a public apology on Facebook, saying he made a mistake and took too much for granted.
Timeline
Collins began serving as Jefferson County justice of the peace in 2019.
Rhodes joined 12News KBMT through Tegna's Producer in Residence program in June 2022.
Rhodes was promoted to evening co-anchor in February 2025.
Collins was reelected as Jefferson County justice of the peace for Precinct 1, Place 2, on Nov. 3.
Wedding Etiquette
Couples who choose intimate ceremonies before a larger celebration typically control when the marriage is announced, and this episode shows how a single social media post by a third party can override that choice. The incident reflects a broader tension between personal milestones and the public visibility that comes with officiating or attending in a public role.
Residents who attend or host ceremonies may want to confirm with their officiant how photos and announcements will be shared before the event. The episode is a reminder that private milestones can become public quickly once they are posted online.
The takeaway
Agree with officiants and guests in advance about who will share wedding photos and when, so the couple controls their own announcement.
Further reading
For more on how couples handle announcements and celebrations, see Weddings in Beaumont.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Chron.
