Topline: With ex-Sheriff Marcos Lopez on the Brady List, defense attorneys could question his integrity if he takes the stand in the Soto murder trial.
Published: June 28, 2025 7:00 am ET
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OSCEOLA COUNTY, FL — As suspended Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez awaits trial on racketeering charges, new questions are surfacing about how his legal troubles may impact one of Central Florida’s most closely watched murder cases: the killing of 13-year-old Madeline Soto.
The racketeering investigation, ongoing since 2023, culminated in Lopez’s June 5 arrest on one count of racketeering and one count of conspiracy to commit racketeering. Since then, the case has unfolded rapidly, with multiple co-defendants arrested, financial records scrutinized, and public confidence shaken.
But now, attention is turning to how Lopez’s credibility as a witness in the Soto case could be undermined—potentially altering the course of the prosecution.
The Brady List and the Soto Connection
According to WKMG News 6, former Orange-Osceola State Attorney Andrew Bain quietly added Lopez to the Brady List in December 2024.
The Brady List flags law enforcement officers whose integrity may be in question, and whose testimony in court must be disclosed to the defense as potentially impeachable.
Bain’s decision stems from Lopez’s conflicting accounts of a controversial crime scene photo tied to the Soto investigation. In July 2024, Lopez publicly apologized after a photo appearing to show Soto’s body was posted to social media by the sheriff’s office. Yet, in a radio interview with WDBO, Lopez downplayed the post, saying, “There was an apology issued but it wasn’t actually the body.”
However, in a sworn interview just five days later, Lopez admitted he had requested the photo be sent to his phone to “compare the clothing on the body to what the victim was last seen wearing.” This contradiction, Bain argued in his letter to Lopez, damaged the sheriff’s credibility: “It is hard to read your immediate answer as anything but an attempt to lessen your public responsibility.”
Lopez has also been fined $250 for violating Florida public records laws related to the photo disclosure.
Crucially, Lopez is listed as a potential witness in the trial of Stephen Sterns, the man accused of killing Madeline Soto. If prosecutors call Lopez to testify, his presence on the Brady List could give the defense a powerful tool to question the reliability of his statements under oath.
Stephan Sterns (via
Orange County Corrections Department)
The Racketeering Case
Meanwhile, Lopez’s own criminal case has continued to unfold. After his arrest on June 5, Governor Ron DeSantis suspended him from duty and appointed Florida Highway Patrol’s Christopher Blackmon as interim sheriff. The same day, Nirva Rodriguez, the executive director of the sheriff’s office, was fired—though she denies involvement in the case, WESH reported.
Lopez pleaded not guilty at his first court appearance on June 6, where his bond was set at $1 million. He was released on bond June 26, three weeks later.
By mid-June, law enforcement had arrested multiple alleged co-conspirators, including Sharon Fedrick and Sheldon Wetherholt. Fedrick posted a $300,000 bond, while Wetherholt turned himself in and posted a $100,000 bond days later.
Then, on June 23, the scandal widened. Robin Severance Lopez—Lopez’s estranged wife—was arrested on charges of conspiracy to use racketeering proceeds for investment. Her bond was set at $400,000 during her first court appearance on June 24.
Court documents and video footage suggest the alleged criminal enterprise revolved around an illegal casino operation. WESH 2 Investigates revealed that the gaming establishment was shut down in 2024 during a multi-agency raid, prior to Lopez’s arrest.
A Shadow Over a High-Stakes Trial
While the state builds its case against Sterns, the specter of Lopez’s racketeering charges looms large. Any trial involving the former sheriff as a witness could be complicated by defense efforts to exploit his Brady status and documented inconsistencies.
Bain’s December 30 letter warned of this exact risk, noting that Lopez’s statements about the Soto photo “could be used to impeach his credibility” in court. As the Soto case edges toward trial, prosecutors now face a delicate challenge: proceed with a tainted witness or seek alternative routes to prove their case.
The ripple effects of the racketeering case extend far beyond Lopez himself. With both public trust and a capital murder trial at stake, the coming months will test the stability of Osceola County’s justice system.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Racketeering Case Against Suspended Osceola Sheriff Could Complicate Maddie Soto Murder Trial
With ex-Sheriff Marcos Lopez on the Brady List, defense attorneys could question his integrity if he takes the stand in the Soto murder trial.
By Jacob Charles
Published: June 28, 2025 7:00 am ET
OSCEOLA COUNTY, FL — As suspended Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez awaits trial on racketeering charges, new questions are surfacing about how his legal troubles may impact one of Central Florida’s most closely watched murder cases: the killing of 13-year-old Madeline Soto.
The racketeering investigation, ongoing since 2023, culminated in Lopez’s June 5 arrest on one count of racketeering and one count of conspiracy to commit racketeering. Since then, the case has unfolded rapidly, with multiple co-defendants arrested, financial records scrutinized, and public confidence shaken.
But now, attention is turning to how Lopez’s credibility as a witness in the Soto case could be undermined—potentially altering the course of the prosecution.
The Brady List and the Soto Connection
According to WKMG News 6, former Orange-Osceola State Attorney Andrew Bain quietly added Lopez to the Brady List in December 2024.
The Brady List flags law enforcement officers whose integrity may be in question, and whose testimony in court must be disclosed to the defense as potentially impeachable.
Bain’s decision stems from Lopez’s conflicting accounts of a controversial crime scene photo tied to the Soto investigation. In July 2024, Lopez publicly apologized after a photo appearing to show Soto’s body was posted to social media by the sheriff’s office. Yet, in a radio interview with WDBO, Lopez downplayed the post, saying, “There was an apology issued but it wasn’t actually the body.”
However, in a sworn interview just five days later, Lopez admitted he had requested the photo be sent to his phone to “compare the clothing on the body to what the victim was last seen wearing.” This contradiction, Bain argued in his letter to Lopez, damaged the sheriff’s credibility: “It is hard to read your immediate answer as anything but an attempt to lessen your public responsibility.”
Lopez has also been fined $250 for violating Florida public records laws related to the photo disclosure.
Crucially, Lopez is listed as a potential witness in the trial of Stephen Sterns, the man accused of killing Madeline Soto. If prosecutors call Lopez to testify, his presence on the Brady List could give the defense a powerful tool to question the reliability of his statements under oath.
Stephan Sterns (via
Orange County Corrections Department)
The Racketeering Case
Meanwhile, Lopez’s own criminal case has continued to unfold. After his arrest on June 5, Governor Ron DeSantis suspended him from duty and appointed Florida Highway Patrol’s Christopher Blackmon as interim sheriff. The same day, Nirva Rodriguez, the executive director of the sheriff’s office, was fired—though she denies involvement in the case, WESH reported.
Lopez pleaded not guilty at his first court appearance on June 6, where his bond was set at $1 million. He was released on bond June 26, three weeks later.
By mid-June, law enforcement had arrested multiple alleged co-conspirators, including Sharon Fedrick and Sheldon Wetherholt. Fedrick posted a $300,000 bond, while Wetherholt turned himself in and posted a $100,000 bond days later.
Then, on June 23, the scandal widened. Robin Severance Lopez—Lopez’s estranged wife—was arrested on charges of conspiracy to use racketeering proceeds for investment. Her bond was set at $400,000 during her first court appearance on June 24.
Court documents and video footage suggest the alleged criminal enterprise revolved around an illegal casino operation. WESH 2 Investigates revealed that the gaming establishment was shut down in 2024 during a multi-agency raid, prior to Lopez’s arrest.
A Shadow Over a High-Stakes Trial
While the state builds its case against Sterns, the specter of Lopez’s racketeering charges looms large. Any trial involving the former sheriff as a witness could be complicated by defense efforts to exploit his Brady status and documented inconsistencies.
Bain’s December 30 letter warned of this exact risk, noting that Lopez’s statements about the Soto photo “could be used to impeach his credibility” in court. As the Soto case edges toward trial, prosecutors now face a delicate challenge: proceed with a tainted witness or seek alternative routes to prove their case.
The ripple effects of the racketeering case extend far beyond Lopez himself. With both public trust and a capital murder trial at stake, the coming months will test the stability of Osceola County’s justice system.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Racketeering Case Against Suspended Osceola Sheriff Could Complicate Maddie Soto Murder Trial
With ex-Sheriff Marcos Lopez on the Brady List, defense attorneys could question his integrity if he takes the stand in the Soto murder trial.
By Jacob Charles
Published: June 28, 2025 7:00 am ET
OSCEOLA COUNTY, FL — As suspended Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez awaits trial on racketeering charges, new questions are surfacing about how his legal troubles may impact one of Central Florida’s most closely watched murder cases: the killing of 13-year-old Madeline Soto.
The racketeering investigation, ongoing since 2023, culminated in Lopez’s June 5 arrest on one count of racketeering and one count of conspiracy to commit racketeering. Since then, the case has unfolded rapidly, with multiple co-defendants arrested, financial records scrutinized, and public confidence shaken.
But now, attention is turning to how Lopez’s credibility as a witness in the Soto case could be undermined—potentially altering the course of the prosecution.
The Brady List and the Soto Connection
According to WKMG News 6, former Orange-Osceola State Attorney Andrew Bain quietly added Lopez to the Brady List in December 2024.
The Brady List flags law enforcement officers whose integrity may be in question, and whose testimony in court must be disclosed to the defense as potentially impeachable.
Bain’s decision stems from Lopez’s conflicting accounts of a controversial crime scene photo tied to the Soto investigation. In July 2024, Lopez publicly apologized after a photo appearing to show Soto’s body was posted to social media by the sheriff’s office. Yet, in a radio interview with WDBO, Lopez downplayed the post, saying, “There was an apology issued but it wasn’t actually the body.”
However, in a sworn interview just five days later, Lopez admitted he had requested the photo be sent to his phone to “compare the clothing on the body to what the victim was last seen wearing.” This contradiction, Bain argued in his letter to Lopez, damaged the sheriff’s credibility: “It is hard to read your immediate answer as anything but an attempt to lessen your public responsibility.”
Lopez has also been fined $250 for violating Florida public records laws related to the photo disclosure.
Crucially, Lopez is listed as a potential witness in the trial of Stephen Sterns, the man accused of killing Madeline Soto. If prosecutors call Lopez to testify, his presence on the Brady List could give the defense a powerful tool to question the reliability of his statements under oath.
Stephan Sterns (via
Orange County Corrections Department)
The Racketeering Case
Meanwhile, Lopez’s own criminal case has continued to unfold. After his arrest on June 5, Governor Ron DeSantis suspended him from duty and appointed Florida Highway Patrol’s Christopher Blackmon as interim sheriff. The same day, Nirva Rodriguez, the executive director of the sheriff’s office, was fired—though she denies involvement in the case, WESH reported.
Lopez pleaded not guilty at his first court appearance on June 6, where his bond was set at $1 million. He was released on bond June 26, three weeks later.
By mid-June, law enforcement had arrested multiple alleged co-conspirators, including Sharon Fedrick and Sheldon Wetherholt. Fedrick posted a $300,000 bond, while Wetherholt turned himself in and posted a $100,000 bond days later.
Then, on June 23, the scandal widened. Robin Severance Lopez—Lopez’s estranged wife—was arrested on charges of conspiracy to use racketeering proceeds for investment. Her bond was set at $400,000 during her first court appearance on June 24.
Court documents and video footage suggest the alleged criminal enterprise revolved around an illegal casino operation. WESH 2 Investigates revealed that the gaming establishment was shut down in 2024 during a multi-agency raid, prior to Lopez’s arrest.
A Shadow Over a High-Stakes Trial
While the state builds its case against Sterns, the specter of Lopez’s racketeering charges looms large. Any trial involving the former sheriff as a witness could be complicated by defense efforts to exploit his Brady status and documented inconsistencies.
Bain’s December 30 letter warned of this exact risk, noting that Lopez’s statements about the Soto photo “could be used to impeach his credibility” in court. As the Soto case edges toward trial, prosecutors now face a delicate challenge: proceed with a tainted witness or seek alternative routes to prove their case.
The ripple effects of the racketeering case extend far beyond Lopez himself. With both public trust and a capital murder trial at stake, the coming months will test the stability of Osceola County’s justice system.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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