Former Red Sox Pitcher Austin Maddox Arrested Anti-Child Predator Sting

Former Red Sox pitcher arrested in child predator sting for attempting to meet underage girl for sex, caught in undercover operation.

A former professional baseball player, Austin Dean Maddox, was recently arrested in a child predator sting operation conducted by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. The 33-year-old former Boston Red Sox pitcher was apprehended after engaging in online conversations with who he believed to be an underage girl, but were actually undercover agents.

The arrest took place on April 28, and Maddox was charged with four felony counts, including traveling to meet after using a computer to seduce/solicit/lure a child, soliciting a child by computer, unlawful use of a communication device, and producing or promoting a performance that includes sexual performance by a child. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office shared footage of the operation on their Facebook page, showing Maddox resisting arrest until a K-9 unit was involved.

In a press conference, Sheriff T.K. Waters revealed that Maddox intended to have sexual relations with a 14-year-old. The sheriff emphasized the importance of prioritizing the safety and security of children in the face of new opportunities for predators to victimize them through the internet.

The sting operation, named Operation Valiant Knights, led to the arrest of 27 men in less than a week. The suspects face charges related to solicitation of a child and human trafficking. Maddox, who is being held on a $300,000 bail, is scheduled to appear in court on May 28.

Prior to his arrest, Maddox had a brief career in Major League Baseball, playing 13 regular season games with the Red Sox in 2017 before retiring in 2020. The former athlete attended the University of Florida before being drafted in the third round of the 2012 MLB Draft.