Florida Criminal Attorney Blog
According to officials, Austin Maddox, a former pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, was taken into custody in Florida on Monday as part of an underage sex operation.
According to reports, Maddox was one of 27 people detained because of a multi-agency operation that concluded late last month. They are accused of soliciting sex from people they believed to be children via the internet, according to officials.
The arrest report stated that on April 28, Maddox, 33, started corresponding with an undercover agent who was posing as a minor. According to officials, he allegedly expressed his interest in having sex with the girl despite knowing her age.
Authorities said that after Maddox showed up at a prearranged location to meet the girl, he was arrested and charged with four felonies, one of which is traveling to meet a minor.
He is currently being held in jail on a $300,000 bond.
What Are Undercover Internet Sex Stings?
Online sex stings typically involve police posing as minors interested in engaging in sexual activities. These operations are aimed at catching individuals who are seeking or attempting to engage in illegal sexual activities with minors. While the intentions behind these stings are noble – to protect vulnerable children – ultimately, there is a huge potential for entrapment, suggesting that police persuaded the accused to commit the crime in question.
Cases involving undercover sex stings often raise complex legal issues. One of the primary challenges with undercover sex stings is proving intent. In many cases, individuals may engage in conversations that are inappropriate or sexually suggestive without necessarily having the intention to commit a crime.
Police will go to any length to apprehend a suspected criminal. They will even manufacture fictitious settings online to engage people who would not have committed a sex offense if the cops had not provided the opportunity.
Sex crimes allegations are serious. Never attempt to clear your name by discussing the matter to the police. Everything you say will be used against you. Instead, you should contact our Florida Internet Sex Sting Defense Lawyers at Whittel & Melton to make sure your rights are protected and that due process is delivered. You can call us at 866-608-5529 or contact us 24/7 online to request a FREE consultation.