Athens police arrest man who fathered child with 16-year-old girl

ATHENS, TX – An Athens Police Department investigation led to the arrest of a suspected child abuser Wednesday night.

APD Detective Cpl. Jacob Sumrall, along with a team of his Detectives and Patrol Officers, served an arrest warrant on Martin Brandstrom, 47, at his residence in Athens for 2nd Degree Felony Sexual Assault of a Child.

According to a probable cause affidavit submitted to 392nd District Judge Scott McKee, the arrest warrant was issued based on DNA evidence indicating a 99.9 percent positive result that Brandstrom fathered a child with a 16-year-old Athens girl.

Judge McKee preset Brandstrom’s bond at $1 million with conditions preventing him from having contact with any child under the age of 17.

“Cpl. Sumrall’s actions in this investigation reflect the dedication of the Athens Police Department to the safety of our children,” said Police Chief John Densmore.

Shore News Network Staff Report Latest posts

Shore News Network Staff Report is the official newsroom byline used by Shore News Network when a story is produced through the collaborative work of multiple members of the editorial team rather than a single reporter.

This newsroom account is reserved for articles that involve contributions from multiple journalists, editors, photographers, researchers, or news desk staff. It is also used for developing stories that are updated as new verified information becomes available, as well as for community announcements, weather coverage, public safety alerts, election results, and other newsroom-produced content.

Every article published under the Shore News Network Staff Report byline is reviewed and edited in accordance with the organization's editorial standards for accuracy, fairness, attribution, and transparency. Information is verified through official government agencies, court records, law enforcement, public documents, direct reporting, interviews, and other reliable primary and secondary sources before publication whenever possible.

The Staff Report account does not use artificial intelligence to independently generate news or publish unverified information. AI-assisted tools may occasionally be used for editorial support tasks such as transcription, formatting, grammar review, or workflow efficiency, but all published content is subject to human editorial oversight and approval by Shore News Network's newsroom staff.

As an independently owned digital news organization, Shore News Network is committed to original reporting, public safety journalism, government accountability, local community coverage, and breaking news throughout New Jersey and surrounding regions. Stories published under the Staff Report byline reflect the collective experience and editorial judgment of the Shore News Network newsroom.

Readers who have corrections, additional information, or news tips related to a Staff Report article are encouraged to contact the newsroom at news@shorenewsnetwork.com. Shore News Network welcomes factual corrections and updates as part of its commitment to accurate, transparent journalism.