Ex-Purple Sox participant arrested in undercover sting after arranging to fulfill lady for intercourse, sheriff says
A former Boston Purple Sox pitcher was just lately arrested in an undercover baby predator sting after authorities say he solicited an underage lady for intercourse after which traveled to fulfill her.
Austin Maddox, 33, of Jacksonville, Florida, is charged with touring to fulfill after utilizing a pc to solicit a baby, solicitation of a kid through laptop to have interaction in sexual conduct, illegal use of a two-way communication system, and producing or selling efficiency which included sexual efficiency by a baby, a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Workplace arrest report indicated.
Jacksonville Sheriff T.Ok. Waters stated that Maddox was arrested in “Operation Valiant Knights,” an undercover on-line sting the place 27 males solicited intercourse over the web from who they believed have been kids, Boston 25′s sister station Action News Jax reported.
Maddox chatted with somebody who recognized herself as a 14-year-old lady on the web site “Skip the Video games,” continued the dialog through textual content message, and organized a spot to fulfill for intercourse, in line with the arrest report.
Investigators say Maddox “expressed a want to commit lewd acts” and after studying the lady’s age he allegedly stated, “That’s younger, child. I get in bother for that. You may’t even drive. You gonna stick with me all evening?”
Maddox was arrested by members of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Workplace when he arrived on the prearranged assembly location on April 28. Officers famous that Maddox suffered accidents whereas being taken into custody.
“Former Main League Baseball participant Austin D. Maddox resisted arrest till our K9 obtained concerned,” a sheriff’s workplace spokesperson stated in a video that confirmed a gaggle of regulation enforcement officers hiding in ready earlier than tackling Maddox to the bottom.
CHILD PREDATOR OPERATION:
27 males thought they have been chatting on-line with underage ladies. As a substitute, they have been speaking to our detectives.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Workplace, together with our native, state, and federal companions with the Web Crimes In opposition to Youngsters Job Power,… pic.twitter.com/b83oyAp1vd
— Jax Sheriff’s Workplace (@JSOPIO) May 20, 2024
Undercover detectives posing as kids chatted with the boys who have been arrested, together with Maddox, “who dedicated to participating in intercourse acts with purported minors,” Waters stated. He added that the target of the sting was to “determine and arrest suspects who solicit kids to have interaction in sexual acts utilizing digital units.”
Maddox appeared in 13 video games for the Purple Sox throughout the 2017 season, posting a 0.52 ERA in 17.1 innings of labor. He spent most of his profession within the minors.
A number of regulation enforcement companies, together with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Homeland Safety Investigations, assisted the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Workplace with this investigation.
When requested for touch upon Maddox’s arrest, a Purple Sox spokesperson informed Boston 25, “I don’t have something for you on this.”
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