X | Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office
Austin Maddoxan ex Big leagues launcher for Boston Red Soxwas arrested in Florida as part of a child predator operation.
The 33-year-old man has allegedly been speaking with an undercover agent posing as an underage girl as part of Jacksonville’s undercover operation against child predators called “Operation Brave Knights.”
Austin Maddox Allegedly Caught Trying to Meet a Minor for Sex
According to Jacksonville Police, Austin Maddox was put behind bars after being accused of soliciting sex over the Internet from someone he believed was a child. He was one of 27 people arrested.
“These adults solicited sexual activity and agreed to engage in sexual acts with alleged minors at prearranged locations,” Jacksonville Sheriff TK Waters said at a news conference Monday, according to WFLA.
Waters added: “Austin Maddox, a former MLB player for the Red Sox, traveled with the intent to engage in sexual activity with a 14-year-old child.”
The 33-year-old former Red Sox pitcher began talking to a girl he thought was 14 years old. She was an undercover agent posing as an underage girl, according to the arrest report obtained by Keynote USA.
Maddox allegedly agreed to meet the minor at a prearranged location, and that’s when he was arrested by police.
Austin Maddox resisted arrest
The sheriff’s office released video after the arrest, which showed a deputy tackling Maddox to the ground as he “resisted arrest” until the K-9 unit intervened.
Maddox has been charged with four felonies, including traveling to meet after using a computer to seduce/solicit/lure a child, soliciting a child via a computer to engage in sexual conduct, unlawful use of a two-way communication and produce/promote performances that include sexual performances by a child.
He is being held in jail on $300,000 bail.
Who is Austin Maddox?
Austin Maddox was part of the Boston Red Sox roster from 2017 to 2019, but only appeared in 13 games in 2017, pitching 17 innings.
Before reaching the big leagues, he played at the University of Florida. He officially retired from professional baseball in 2020.
MLB’s Mike Clevinger investigated for domestic violence
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Maddox is not the only MLB player to find himself in legal trouble as Mike Clevingerwho is currently signed with the Chicago White Sox, was investigated in 2023 for allegations of domestic violence and child abuse.
According to The Blast’s previous report, in the summer of 2022, Olivia Finestead, mother of Clevinger’s daughter, contacted the MLB Investigations Department, alleging physical, verbal and emotional abuse, which she also described in her personal stories. from Instagram.
At the time, MLB reported that “Clevinger choked (Finestead).” Two weeks later, she alleges that the Chicago White Sox player “slapped her in a hotel room when the team was playing the Dodgers and threw used chewing tobacco at her son.”
Chicago White Sox issue statement
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Following the accusations, the Chicago White Sox issued the following statement:
“Major League Baseball and the Chicago White Sox take each and every allegation very seriously, and the White Sox fully support the joint policy on domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse shared by MLB and the MLBPA. MLB opened an investigation after learning of these accusations. The White Sox were not aware of the allegations or the investigation at the time of his signing. “The White Sox will refrain from commenting until MLB’s investigative process has reached its conclusion.”
Clevinger’s attorney also released a statement at the time, stating that the MLB pitcher “emphatically denies” the allegations. “He has never harmed Ms. Finestead or her daughter. We will not comment on Ms. Finestead’s motive for bringing forward these false accusations,” they said. “The simple truth is that Mike has done nothing wrong.”
A few months after MLB launched an investigation, it was reported that the White Sox pitcher would not face disciplinary action from the league following allegations of domestic abuse.
Keynote USA
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