IMO without Mr Stephens doing the expose then this deputy would have gotten off scot free. This is real journalism that you just dont see anymore.
It was factual as far as you can get without calling witnesses. Of course he relied on hearsay. And rumors, and innuendo. And talked to less than savory characters. Just like Law Enforcement does to get a grand jury to grant an indictment.
Turn about is fair play. How often do you see a so called journalist to actually do an in depth investigation? Not often, mostly they just read off a pre written script and that makes them a journalist. Or just report the latest talking points. Hell, a trained monkey could do that.