San Marcos community has been shaken by a disturbing case of child sexual abuse, culminating in a life sentence for the perpetrator. In an announcement by Hays County Criminal District Attorney Kelly Higgins, 38-year-old Andrew Brown of Dripping Springs was sentenced to life in prison for sexually abusing a child. Judge Wright-Reneau of the 207th District Court delivered the sentence on May 30, following Brown's conviction by a jury earlier this year.
After a trial that revealed harrowing details, on January 26, 2024, Brown was found guilty of continuous sexual abuse of a child younger than 14. According to official reports, the victim was eight years old and the child of a family friend. The abuse occurred over a span of more than a year and often when Brown had the opportunity to care for the child alone. Before his trial, Brown, who worked as both a real estate agent and cheer coach for young children, was out on bond but was quickly taken back into custody following his conviction.
Evidence presented during the punishment phase of the trial was particularly damning, revealing that Brown possessed thousands of child pornographic images. A police investigation uncovered calls he made from jail, instructing a family member to destroy the storage device containing the images. These findings added to the gravity of Brown's crime and the subsequent punishment.
The investigation was led by Hays County Sheriff’s Office Detective Brian Wahlert and brought to court by Assistant Criminal District Attorneys Shelby Griffin and James Peplinski, with support from additional assistant district attorneys. Reflecting on the case, Griffin shared the sentiment that the conviction and life sentence serve as a statement against child sexual abuse. "We would like to thank the victim and their family for the bravery and strength that it took to come forward and face the defendant in court," Griffin said. "The sentence in this case shows that child sexual abuse will not be tolerated in Hays County."
