Jacksonville, Florida – A former Boston Red Sox player, Austin Dean Maddox, found himself arrest in a child sex solicitation sting recently. Maddox, a former pitcher, was among 27 men arrested in a police operation in Florida.
Maddox faced four felony charges, including traveling to meet a child following online solicitation, soliciting a child online, using a communication device unlawfully, and producing or promoting a performance involving sexual acts by a child. In a released video by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, Maddox was depicted being apprehended by law enforcement officers for his involvement in the crime.
Sheriff T.K. Waters highlighted the seriousness of Maddox’s case, mentioning that the former player allegedly planned to engage in sexual activities with a 14-year-old. Maddox was being held on a bail amount of around $300,000, with his next court appearance scheduled for May 28.
Operation Valiant Knights, the police operation that culminated in the arrests of the 27 men, was a collaborative effort involving local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. Maddox, who retired from baseball before the 2020 season, was known by the nickname “Madd Dawg” during his playing career.
During the 2017 season, Maddox had an outstanding performance on the field with the Red Sox. In his 15 appearances for the team, he maintained an impressive ERA of 0.52 over 17 innings in the regular season, later pitching twice during the postseason and achieving a 4.50 ERA through two innings. Maddox’s baseball journey began at the University of Florida before he was drafted in the third round of the 2012 MLB Draft.
Victims of sexual assault can seek support and resources through organizations like the National Sexual Violence Resources Center and the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline. Additionally, Massachusetts offers a list of statewide resources to assist sexual assault survivors in the state.