Former Boston Red Sox pitcher Austin Maddox has been arrested as part of an operation to catch child sexual predators.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Department in Florida stated it labored with native, state and federal companions to establish and arrest 27 males for trying to sexually exploit kids on-line — one of these being Maddox.
“Austin Maddox, a former Red Sox MLB participant, traveled with the intent of participating in sexual exercise with a 14-year-old child,” Sheriff T.Okay. Waters stated in a press convention.
Also amongst these arrested was a public faculty upkeep employee and a sergeant of the Army National Guard, in line with police.
The males thought that they had been chatting with underage kids on-line, however as an alternative had been speaking with detectives.
The arrests included 24 males who agreed to satisfy who they thought had been minors for sex at a specified location. They had been instantly taken into custody upon arrival. The different three had been arrested as part of follow-up investigations.
Video launched by police confirmed Maddox getting pummeled to the bottom by police when he arrived at a residence. He “resisted arrest till our Okay-9 bought concerned,” police stated within the video.
The males arrested are between the ages of 19 and 69 years outdated.
They had been arrested on fees that included coercing sexual exercise for human trafficking, which is a first-degree felony, amongst different issues, Waters stated.
While he stated dad and mom are to not blame, Waters issued a phrase of warning to folks who can get wrapped up in busy lives and never understand what their kids are stepping into.
“It’s essential for us to set as many protections on our computer systems, and to concentrate to what our youngsters are doing. If you don’t, generally these sorts of issues occur, and we are not looking for our youngsters being victims to those predators,” Waters stated.
Police stated they’ll proceed conducting such operations to cease child predators.
