JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A former Boston Red Sox player who was arrested in an undercover, multi-agency investigation last week pleaded not guilty Tuesday morning to a series of child sex crimes, according to court documents.
Austin Maddox, 33, was among 27 men arrested during "Operation Valiant Knights," which targeted suspects using the internet to sexually exploit children.
The investigation lasted several days in April involving the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children Unit and federal, state and local law enforcement partners.
During the investigation, undercover detectives posed as children and chatted online with the men, all of which solicited sexual activity and were "committed to engaging in sex acts with purported minors at pre-arranged locations."
A JSO arrest report states throughout Maddox's communication with detectives, he expressed his intent to commit lewd acts with a 14-year-old child and after finding out the child's age, said, "I get in trouble for that. You can't even drive."
Maddox was arrested on April 28 after driving to a prearranged location to meet who he thought was a 14-year-old child with the intent of engaging in sexual activity, according to investigators.
Maddox is charged with four felonies, including traveling to meet a minor after using a computer to seduce, solicit and lure a child, solicitation of a child using a computer to engage in sexual activity, producing/promoting performance which includes sexual performance by a child and unlawful use of a two-way communication device.
His next court date is scheduled for Jane 25 at 9 a.m. in Duval County court.