In JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Austin Dean Maddox once shone as both a catcher and relief pitcher at the University of Florida, appearing in three College World Series teams, and made his Boston Red Sox debut in 2017.

Fast forward eight years, he found himself entangled in a sting operation, reportedly telling an undercover agent, who he believed to be a 14-year-old girl online, unsettling statements like “Daddy gonna own that tonight.” The conversation contained explicit content not suitable for printing, though he was aware she was too young even to drive.

He was arrested on April 28, 2024, by a Jacksonville SWAT team when investigators said he showed up to meet the girl for sex.

On September 11, the 34-year-old from Macclenny admitted guilt to charges related to traveling to meet a minor for illicit acts and misuse of a two-way communication device.

In the plea deal, charges of soliciting a minor via computer were dismissed. Earlier, on May 22, 2024, another charge about involving a child in sexual performance was also dropped, as court documents reveal.

Judge Lindsay Tygart issued a sentence to Maddox: three years in prison, accounting for 501 days already served, followed by five years of sex offender probation with various other stipulations, as outlined in the plea deal. Initially, he was facing a potential five-year incarceration.

Maddox responded, “Yes, ma’am,” each time to the judge’s questions assuring he understands his plea.

Maddox was part of a 27-man arrest in the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office’s five-day sting, Operation Valiant Knights, which cracked down on adults targeting minors. His arrest was captured on video, showing six officers subduing him as he arrived at the meetup location.

Maddox was initially drafted in the 37th round out of Eagle’s View Academy in Jacksonville by the Tampa Bay Rays but opted to play at the University of Florida where he starred as a catcher and reliever and was a two-time third-team All-American, 2010 SEC Freshman of the Year and played on three College World Series teams.

He was then drafted in the third round of the 2012 MLB draft by the Boston Red Sox. There he only played 13 games in 2017 but had a 0.52 earned run average.

In high school, Maddox batted over .500 his last three seasons with the Warriors, led them to two state championships and was named the Times-Union’s All-First Coast Baseball Player of the Year.

This story was first published by the Florida Times-Union.