Former MLB pitcher Austin Maddox was arrested in Jacksonville after an undercover agent — pretending to be an underage girl as part of a child predator sting — lured Maddox to meet at a pre-arranged location.
The Jacksonville sheriff’s office also released footage of the wild arrest, which showed Maddox getting blitzed by officers at the front door of the home where he arranged to meet with the undercover agent pretending to be a 14-year-old girl. A total of 27 men were arrested in the child predator sting, titled “Operation Valiant Knights.”
HOUSTON, TX – OCTOBER 06: Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Austin Maddox (71) delivers the pitch in the seventh inning during game two of American Division League Series between the Houston Astros and the Boston Red Sox at Minute Maid Park, Friday, October 6, 2017. Houston Astros defeated Boston Red Sox 8-2. (Photo by Juan DeLeon/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Maddox can be seen arriving at the home in a red pick-up truck and knocking on the front door before the squad walloped the former player onto the front lawn.
WATCH:
Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters spoke on Maddox’s arrest on Monday: “These adults solicited sexual activity and committed to engaging in sex acts with purported minors at pre-arranged locations.” He added, “Austin Maddox, a former Red Sox MLB player, traveled with the intent of engaging in sexual activity with a 14-year-old child.”
FT. MYERS, FL – FEBRUARY 15: Austin Maddox #62 high fives Rick Porcello #22 of the Boston Red Sox during a team workout on February 15, 2018 at Fenway South in Fort Myers, Florida . (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
The 33-year-old was placed behind bars on April 28 and held on a $300,000 bond.
Maddox played 13 games for Boston, throwing 17 innings in 2017. Shoulder injuries derailed his career, and he joined the majors after a successful college career at the University of Florida.
HOUSTON, TX – OCTOBER 5: Austin Maddox #71 of the Boston Red Sox looks on before game one of the American League Division Series against the Houston Astros on October 5, 2017 at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
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