Country singer Daniel Lee Martin found dead by deputies serving child sex abuse warrants

NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. — Country music artist and reality show host Daniel Lee Martin has died while awaiting trial on charges related to the sexual abuse of minors, the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office confirmed.

A department spokesperson told People magazine that deputies found Martin, 54, dead in his home Friday from a gunshot wound that appeared to be self-inflicted.

TMZ was the first media outlet to report Martin's death.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, deputies were on the premises to serve warrants issued out of Tennessee that included:

• three counts of sexual exploitation on a minor

• three counts of aggravated sexual battery

• two counts of committing an aggravated sexual battery

• one count of solicitation of a minor to commit rape of a child

When they arrived, however, Martin did not respond to their attempts to contact him, and the SWAT team was called to assist because deputies say Martin made past threats to harm himself and others, WFLA reported.

Martin was previously arrested Jan. 27 in Pasco County and charged with lewd and lascivious exhibition of a victim younger than 16, the TV station reported.

Martin launched his country music career in 1997, opening for such established performers as Willie Nelson, Charlie Daniels and Vince Gill and releasing "All That I Am" in 2003 and "On My Way to You" in 2007. He also co-hosted the hunting show "Brotherhood Outdoors," People reported.

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