Boston Pitcher Arrested in Florida after Undercover Agents Bust Ring targeting Juvenile Girls for Explicit Activities

Austin Maddox, a former Boston Red Sox pitcher, was apprehended in Florida as part of an operation targeting underage sexual activity, according to authorities who made the announcement on Monday.
Maddox was among the 27 individuals apprehended in a recent multi-agency operation, according to Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters. According to officials, they are facing accusations of engaging in online solicitation of individuals whom they believed to be minors.
James Hill, a defense attorney for Maddox, expressed his determination to vigorously contest the accusations made against his client. He stated that if formal charges are brought forward, Maddox will plead not guilty.
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A 33-year-old individual, Maddox, initiated communication with an undercover agent who was posing as an underage girl on April 28, according to an arrest report. According to officials, despite the girl informing him of her age, he still expressed his intention to engage in sexual activity with her.
Maddox was apprehended by law enforcement officers after agreeing to meet the girl at a pre-arranged location, according to authorities.
The individual in question is facing four serious felony charges, one of which involves traveling to meet a minor after using a computer to engage in inappropriate communication. He is currently being detained in jail with a bond set at $300,000.
Maddox was a college athlete at the University of Florida and was selected by the Boston Red Sox in 2012. He joined the team in 2017, making his major league debut after spending several years in the minors.
After spending approximately three months on the Red Sox roster, he made the decision to return to the minors in order to recover from shoulder injuries. He was let go from the team in 2019.