Former Boston Red Sox pitcher, Austin Maddox, has been arrested in Florida as part of an underage sex sting operation, authorities announced on Monday. Maddox is one of 27 individuals who were apprehended in a multi-agency operation that took place last month, according to Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters.

The accused individuals have been charged with soliciting sex over the internet from individuals whom they believed were underage children, officials stated. Maddox, 33, began communicating with an undercover agent posing as an underage girl on April 28, as mentioned in an arrest report. Shockingly, despite being informed that the girl was only 14 years old, Maddox expressed his intention to engage in sexual activities with her, officials revealed.

Authorities stated that Maddox ultimately agreed to meet the girl at a pre-arranged location, where he was promptly arrested by law enforcement officers. He now faces four felony counts, including the charge of traveling to meet a child after using a computer to solicit them. Currently, Maddox is being held in jail on a $300,000 bond.

In response to the allegations, James Hill, a defense attorney for Maddox, stated that his client plans to vehemently challenge these accusations. Hill asserted that Maddox will plead not guilty if formal charges are filed against him.

Austin Maddox, who played college baseball for the University of Florida, was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in 2012 and made his major league debut with the team in 2017 after spending several years in the minors. However, his time in the big leagues was cut short due to shoulder injuries, resulting in his return to the minors for recovery. Maddox was released from the Red Sox in 2019.

The arrest of a professional athlete in such a morally reprehensible case underlines the importance of vigilant efforts to protect vulnerable children from online predators. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, in collaboration with local, state, and federal partners in the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, worked diligently to apprehend the accused individuals involved in this disturbing operation.