Former Boston Red Sox Pitcher Austin Maddox Arrested in Child Predator Sting Operation
Former Red Sox pitcher Austin Maddox, 33, was apprehended in a significant child predator sting in Jacksonville, Florida. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office detained Maddox on April 28 for engaging with an individual posing as an underage girl online, who turned out to be an undercover detective.
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Austin Maddox. Elsa/Getty Images
Former Boston Red Sox pitcher Austin Maddox, 33, was arrested in Jacksonville, Florida as part of a large operation targeting child predators.
On April 28, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office arrested Maddox after he engaged with someone online who he believed to be an underage girl. However, it was actually undercover detectives posing as a young girl. Maddox was caught in a video that was later released on May 20.
Maddox was seen being taken to the ground by a group of officers as he exited his red pickup truck and then handcuffed. A voiceover in the video mentioned that Maddox resisted arrest until a K-9 was brought in.
He was arrested on four felony charges, which included traveling to meet a minor after using a computer to seduce, solicit, or lure a child, as well as solicitation of a child via computer to engage in sexual conduct.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office revealed that 27 men believed they were conversing with underage girls online. In reality, they were actually communicating with undercover detectives posing as minors.
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Courtesy of JACKSONVILLE SHERIFF’S OFFICE
The individuals were arrested during a five-day sting called Operation Valiant Knights.
During a Monday police briefing, Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters explained that the goal of the operation was to catch individuals who try to lure children into sexual activities through the use of electronic devices.
Sheriff Waters mentioned that undercover detectives pretended to be children online and interacted with these adults. The adults then tried to initiate sexual activities and agreed to meet up with who they thought were minors at specific places. As soon as these adults showed up at the meeting spots, they were taken into custody by the authorities.
Waters disclosed that Maddox had planned to meet a 14-year-old for sexual activity. His bond was set at a little over $300,000, and his next court appearance is on Tuesday, May 28, at Duval County Courthouse.
Maddox, who was selected in the third round of the 2012 MLB Draft by the Red Sox, played in 13 career games in the majors starting in June 2017.
Even though Maddox couldn't play in any games in 2018 because of an injury, he still received a ring when the Red Sox became World Series champions. The ring was put up for auction by Heritage Auctions in November 2021, but it didn't find a buyer.
Maddox started his college baseball career at the University of Florida, where he first played as an infielder and catcher before transitioning to become a pitcher.
