Topline: Jurors will not hear evidence about Madeline Soto’s death until the murder trial begins in September.
Published: July 21, 2025 8:00 am ET
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KISSIMMEE, FL — On Tuesday, the first of what could be several courtroom reckonings begins for Stephan Sterns, the man at the center of one of Florida’s most disturbing criminal cases in recent memory.
While the murder trial for 13-year-old Madeline Soto won’t begin until fall, jurors this week will begin hearing evidence on more than 60 charges of child sexual abuse against Sterns—a case built largely on graphic digital evidence police say they discovered on his phone after the girl disappeared earlier this year.
The charges include capital sexual battery, lewd and lascivious molestation, and possession of child sexual abuse material. Prosecutors say many of the images and videos date back to shortly after Sterns began dating Soto’s mother, and show repeated abuse of the child over a span of years.
Sterns, 39, has pleaded not guilty. His attorneys have not commented publicly on the evidence but used a lengthy pretrial hearing last Monday to argue for a string of courtroom conditions they say are necessary to preserve his right to a fair trial.
That hearing, reported by WFTV and Spectrum News 13, laid the groundwork for what promises to be a tightly controlled, high-stakes proceeding.
Jurors will be selected under unusual constraints, after Sterns’ defense successfully requested that newspaper racks be removed from the Osceola County courthouse during the trial. The concern, his lawyers argued, was that front-page headlines might influence jurors as they enter the building each day.
The judge agreed to the request, noting the county controls newspaper distribution on courthouse grounds.
Inside the courtroom, security and media access will be tightly managed. Cameras—typically allowed with limitations—will be restricted from zooming in on attorneys’ notes. Prosecutors joined the defense in raising concern that so-called “true crime” bloggers might not follow standard courtroom protocols.
The judge also approved a request to bar cell phones from the courtroom for anyone not officially credentialed by the Ninth Judicial Circuit.
Sterns will be present throughout the trial, dressed in civilian clothes, but jurors will not see the restrictive leg brace he’ll wear beneath his suit, Spectrum News 13 reported.
Deputies initially proposed a shock bracelet, but after concerns about accidental activation, the judge ordered a less advanced but more secure leg restraint.
In an unusual decision the judge called a personal first, Sterns will also be allowed to use a felt-tip pen at counsel table. His attorneys argued that the standard three-inch inmate pen could be distracting to jurors and difficult to use for note-taking. The judge tested the jail-issued pen himself before approving the upgrade.
When the trial begins Tuesday, a TV screen will be wheeled into the courtroom for prosecutors to display the evidence.
WFTV reports that five of the recordings include audio. Prosecutors said they do not intend to request a closed courtroom when the videos are played but will position the TV so that members of the public cannot see the material.
Though the current trial does not involve the murder charge, the emotional weight of Soto’s death will be difficult to separate from the testimony and imagery jurors will face. The seventh-grader was reported missing on February 26 after her mother arrived at school and learned she hadn’t been dropped off that morning. Sterns, who was supposed to take her, allegedly told inconsistent stories to authorities. Her body was discovered four days later in a wooded area of Osceola County.
A separate trial on the first-degree murder and kidnapping charges is scheduled for September. Prosecutors have already said they will seek the death penalty.
But as the case against Sterns unfolds, there’s another volatile factor hanging over the proceedings: the scandal surrounding the man who used to lead the investigation.
Former Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez—now suspended and under indictment for racketeering—was placed on the Brady List last year after questions arose about his credibility in the Soto investigation.
CrimeCod previously reported that Lopez gave conflicting accounts about a crime scene photo of Soto’s body that was posted by his office to social media. In a radio interview, he minimized the leak. But in a sworn statement days later, he admitted requesting the image himself to compare the clothing with what Soto had last been seen wearing.
That contradiction earned him a spot on the Brady List, a designation that could complicate any testimony he might offer in future proceedings. It also adds another layer of fragility to a prosecution already under intense public scrutiny.
For now, though, all eyes turn to the Osceola County Courthouse on Tuesday morning, where jurors will begin sifting through some of the most harrowing evidence in the case. And while this week’s trial will not determine Sterns’ guilt or innocence in Soto’s death, it may shape how the community—and the courts—understand the gravity of what came before it.
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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Sterns Faces Trial Tuesday for Years of Alleged Sexual Abuse of Maddie Soto Ahead of Murder Case
Jurors will not hear evidence about Madeline Soto’s death until the murder trial begins in September.
By Jacob Charles
Published: July 21, 2025 8:00 am ET
KISSIMMEE, FL — On Tuesday, the first of what could be several courtroom reckonings begins for Stephan Sterns, the man at the center of one of Florida’s most disturbing criminal cases in recent memory.
While the murder trial for 13-year-old Madeline Soto won’t begin until fall, jurors this week will begin hearing evidence on more than 60 charges of child sexual abuse against Sterns—a case built largely on graphic digital evidence police say they discovered on his phone after the girl disappeared earlier this year.
The charges include capital sexual battery, lewd and lascivious molestation, and possession of child sexual abuse material. Prosecutors say many of the images and videos date back to shortly after Sterns began dating Soto’s mother, and show repeated abuse of the child over a span of years.
Sterns, 39, has pleaded not guilty. His attorneys have not commented publicly on the evidence but used a lengthy pretrial hearing last Monday to argue for a string of courtroom conditions they say are necessary to preserve his right to a fair trial.
That hearing, reported by WFTV and Spectrum News 13, laid the groundwork for what promises to be a tightly controlled, high-stakes proceeding.
Jurors will be selected under unusual constraints, after Sterns’ defense successfully requested that newspaper racks be removed from the Osceola County courthouse during the trial. The concern, his lawyers argued, was that front-page headlines might influence jurors as they enter the building each day.
The judge agreed to the request, noting the county controls newspaper distribution on courthouse grounds.
Inside the courtroom, security and media access will be tightly managed. Cameras—typically allowed with limitations—will be restricted from zooming in on attorneys’ notes. Prosecutors joined the defense in raising concern that so-called “true crime” bloggers might not follow standard courtroom protocols.
The judge also approved a request to bar cell phones from the courtroom for anyone not officially credentialed by the Ninth Judicial Circuit.
Sterns will be present throughout the trial, dressed in civilian clothes, but jurors will not see the restrictive leg brace he’ll wear beneath his suit, Spectrum News 13 reported.
Deputies initially proposed a shock bracelet, but after concerns about accidental activation, the judge ordered a less advanced but more secure leg restraint.
In an unusual decision the judge called a personal first, Sterns will also be allowed to use a felt-tip pen at counsel table. His attorneys argued that the standard three-inch inmate pen could be distracting to jurors and difficult to use for note-taking. The judge tested the jail-issued pen himself before approving the upgrade.
When the trial begins Tuesday, a TV screen will be wheeled into the courtroom for prosecutors to display the evidence.
WFTV reports that five of the recordings include audio. Prosecutors said they do not intend to request a closed courtroom when the videos are played but will position the TV so that members of the public cannot see the material.
Though the current trial does not involve the murder charge, the emotional weight of Soto’s death will be difficult to separate from the testimony and imagery jurors will face. The seventh-grader was reported missing on February 26 after her mother arrived at school and learned she hadn’t been dropped off that morning. Sterns, who was supposed to take her, allegedly told inconsistent stories to authorities. Her body was discovered four days later in a wooded area of Osceola County.
A separate trial on the first-degree murder and kidnapping charges is scheduled for September. Prosecutors have already said they will seek the death penalty.
But as the case against Sterns unfolds, there’s another volatile factor hanging over the proceedings: the scandal surrounding the man who used to lead the investigation.
Former Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez—now suspended and under indictment for racketeering—was placed on the Brady List last year after questions arose about his credibility in the Soto investigation.
CrimeCod previously reported that Lopez gave conflicting accounts about a crime scene photo of Soto’s body that was posted by his office to social media. In a radio interview, he minimized the leak. But in a sworn statement days later, he admitted requesting the image himself to compare the clothing with what Soto had last been seen wearing.
That contradiction earned him a spot on the Brady List, a designation that could complicate any testimony he might offer in future proceedings. It also adds another layer of fragility to a prosecution already under intense public scrutiny.
For now, though, all eyes turn to the Osceola County Courthouse on Tuesday morning, where jurors will begin sifting through some of the most harrowing evidence in the case. And while this week’s trial will not determine Sterns’ guilt or innocence in Soto’s death, it may shape how the community—and the courts—understand the gravity of what came before it.
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
Sterns Faces Trial Tuesday for Years of Alleged Sexual Abuse of Maddie Soto Ahead of Murder Case
Jurors will not hear evidence about Madeline Soto’s death until the murder trial begins in September.
By Jacob Charles
Published: July 21, 2025 8:00 am ET
KISSIMMEE, FL — On Tuesday, the first of what could be several courtroom reckonings begins for Stephan Sterns, the man at the center of one of Florida’s most disturbing criminal cases in recent memory.
While the murder trial for 13-year-old Madeline Soto won’t begin until fall, jurors this week will begin hearing evidence on more than 60 charges of child sexual abuse against Sterns—a case built largely on graphic digital evidence police say they discovered on his phone after the girl disappeared earlier this year.
The charges include capital sexual battery, lewd and lascivious molestation, and possession of child sexual abuse material. Prosecutors say many of the images and videos date back to shortly after Sterns began dating Soto’s mother, and show repeated abuse of the child over a span of years.
Sterns, 39, has pleaded not guilty. His attorneys have not commented publicly on the evidence but used a lengthy pretrial hearing last Monday to argue for a string of courtroom conditions they say are necessary to preserve his right to a fair trial.
That hearing, reported by WFTV and Spectrum News 13, laid the groundwork for what promises to be a tightly controlled, high-stakes proceeding.
Jurors will be selected under unusual constraints, after Sterns’ defense successfully requested that newspaper racks be removed from the Osceola County courthouse during the trial. The concern, his lawyers argued, was that front-page headlines might influence jurors as they enter the building each day.
The judge agreed to the request, noting the county controls newspaper distribution on courthouse grounds.
Inside the courtroom, security and media access will be tightly managed. Cameras—typically allowed with limitations—will be restricted from zooming in on attorneys’ notes. Prosecutors joined the defense in raising concern that so-called “true crime” bloggers might not follow standard courtroom protocols.
The judge also approved a request to bar cell phones from the courtroom for anyone not officially credentialed by the Ninth Judicial Circuit.
Sterns will be present throughout the trial, dressed in civilian clothes, but jurors will not see the restrictive leg brace he’ll wear beneath his suit, Spectrum News 13 reported.
Deputies initially proposed a shock bracelet, but after concerns about accidental activation, the judge ordered a less advanced but more secure leg restraint.
In an unusual decision the judge called a personal first, Sterns will also be allowed to use a felt-tip pen at counsel table. His attorneys argued that the standard three-inch inmate pen could be distracting to jurors and difficult to use for note-taking. The judge tested the jail-issued pen himself before approving the upgrade.
When the trial begins Tuesday, a TV screen will be wheeled into the courtroom for prosecutors to display the evidence.
WFTV reports that five of the recordings include audio. Prosecutors said they do not intend to request a closed courtroom when the videos are played but will position the TV so that members of the public cannot see the material.
Though the current trial does not involve the murder charge, the emotional weight of Soto’s death will be difficult to separate from the testimony and imagery jurors will face. The seventh-grader was reported missing on February 26 after her mother arrived at school and learned she hadn’t been dropped off that morning. Sterns, who was supposed to take her, allegedly told inconsistent stories to authorities. Her body was discovered four days later in a wooded area of Osceola County.
A separate trial on the first-degree murder and kidnapping charges is scheduled for September. Prosecutors have already said they will seek the death penalty.
But as the case against Sterns unfolds, there’s another volatile factor hanging over the proceedings: the scandal surrounding the man who used to lead the investigation.
Former Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez—now suspended and under indictment for racketeering—was placed on the Brady List last year after questions arose about his credibility in the Soto investigation.
CrimeCod previously reported that Lopez gave conflicting accounts about a crime scene photo of Soto’s body that was posted by his office to social media. In a radio interview, he minimized the leak. But in a sworn statement days later, he admitted requesting the image himself to compare the clothing with what Soto had last been seen wearing.
That contradiction earned him a spot on the Brady List, a designation that could complicate any testimony he might offer in future proceedings. It also adds another layer of fragility to a prosecution already under intense public scrutiny.
For now, though, all eyes turn to the Osceola County Courthouse on Tuesday morning, where jurors will begin sifting through some of the most harrowing evidence in the case. And while this week’s trial will not determine Sterns’ guilt or innocence in Soto’s death, it may shape how the community—and the courts—understand the gravity of what came before it.
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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