Court Records Reveal Prior Indictment in Jasper County for Former Coach Convicted in Liberty County

JASPER COUNTY / LIBERTY COUNTY – Court records reveal that Jeffrey Brent Martin, the Tyler County man recently convicted in Liberty County of sexually assaulting a student, was previously indicted in Jasper County in 2013 for an improper relationship with a student while employed as a coach at Buna High School.

The 2013 charge was filed as a second-degree felony: Improper Relationship Between an Educator and Student. The status of the Jasper County case remains unclear, and public records reviewed by East Texas Banner do not show a conviction tied to that charge.

Years later, Martin was again accused of sexual misconduct with a student — this time in Liberty County. He was arrested in 2020, and after years of delays, was convicted in September 2025 in the 253rd State District Court of Sexual Assault of a Child and Attempt to Commit Indecency with a Child by Exposure.

Court records show the illegal relationship began when the victim was 15 and a student at Hull-Daisetta High School, where Martin worked as a girls’ coach. At the same time, he was also serving as a youth pastor.

Despite the conviction, Martin was not sentenced to prison. Instead, Judge Chap Cain III sentenced him to 10 years’ probation. Under the terms of the sentence, Martin must:

• Register as a sex offender for life.

• Report to the Liberty County Jail every Friday and remain in custody until Sunday evening for the next three years.

• Abide by a protective order signed at sentencing.

Court documents also show Martin received a deferred adjudication judgment — meaning if he successfully completes probation, the conviction will not appear as a final conviction on his record. However, if he violates the terms of probation, he could face up to 20 years in prison.

The combination of the Jasper County indictment and the Liberty County conviction highlights a troubling pattern across multiple East Texas counties, raising questions about how Martin continued to find employment in positions of trust with students despite prior allegations.