Former Boston Red Sox pitcher Austin Maddox was arrested in Florida as part of an underage sex sting operation, along with 26 others. Maddox, 33, plans to fight the allegations and has entered a not guilty plea to the four felony charges he is facing. He is accused of soliciting sex over the internet from individuals believed to be children. Bail has been set at $300,000 for Maddox, who is currently in jail awaiting further legal proceedings.
The operation involved Maddox communicating with an undercover agent who posed as an underage girl. Despite being informed that she was 14, Maddox expressed a desire to have sex with her. Authorities then arrested him at a pre-determined location. Maddox, originally from Jacksonville, had a brief stint in the MLB in 2017 but was plagued by shoulder injuries that ultimately led to his release from the Boston Red Sox in 2019.
Maddox had a promising career in college at the University of Florida and was drafted by the Red Sox in 2012. However, he spent most of his professional career in the minor leagues before being released by the team in 2019. In his short time in the MLB, Maddox displayed potential with a 0.52 ERA over 17.1 innings pitched in 13 games. Despite his success in college, Maddox struggled to establish himself in the major leagues and faced setbacks due to injuries.
The Associated Press contributed to the report on Maddox’s arrest and his background in baseball. The former pitcher’s defense attorney, James Hill, has stated that Maddox intends to dispute the charges and believes that he is innocent. The case is ongoing, and Maddox will have to navigate the legal system to address the allegations against him and potentially clear his name. The accusations against Maddox are serious, and he will need to mount a strong defense to combat the charges he is facing as a result of the sex sting operation.
