The former Boston Red Sox pitcher was arrested last month during an undercover raid on child predators after he allegedly tried to “sexually exploit children.”
Austin Dean Maddox, 33, was taken into custody on April 28 by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office after engaging in an online conversation with what he thought was an underage girl but was actually an undercover agent.
Ohio teacher allegedly tried to arrange sex with 14-year-old girl — but talked to an undercover agent
On Monday, May 20, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office shared video of its operation on its Facebook account, showing the former athlete resisting arrest “until our K-9 got involved.”
Maddox was arrested on four felony charges — traveling to meet after using a computer to seduce/solicit/lure a child; performance of the child through the computer; illegal use of a communication device; and producing or promoting a performance involving the sexual performance of a child, according to NBC 10 Boston, citing inmate records.
“27 men thought they were talking to minors online. Instead, they spoke to our detectives,” the sheriff’s office began as the caption of its Facebook post.
The video lasted a little over three minutes and showed the arrest of several alleged predators.
Austin Maddox.
Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty
One man who believed he was with the child “turned up with a gun and illegal drugs identified as MDMA.” Another suspect was stopped on the side of the road, still in the hospital clothes from his shift when he was arrested for allegedly traveling to meet the 8-year-old.
During a press conference, Sheriff TK Waters said Maddox intended to have sex with the 14-year-old.
“JSO and our partners place the highest priority on the safety and security of our children as the Internet provides new and frightening opportunities for predators to victimize our children,” Waters said.
“Our investigators, along with investigators from our partner agencies, will continue to proactively identify and capture Child Predators before they have a chance to act on their perversions.”
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According to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, 27 men have been arrested in less than a week.
The department, “along with our local, state and federal partners with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, arrested the suspects during the five-day operation Valiant Knights. These people face a long list of crimes, including child abduction and human trafficking.”
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It was not immediately known if Maddox had a lawyer, writes NBC. The former baseball player was being held on about $300,000 bail. His next trial is on May 28.
Maddox attended the University of Florida before being selected in the third round of the 2012 MLB Draft.
His career stats include 13 regular season games with the Red Sox in 2017 before his retirement in 2020.
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