Stephan Sterns, the man accused of the rape and murder of 13-year-old Madeline Soto, has entered a plea that will ensure he spends the remainder of his life in prison. Sterns pleaded guilty to sexual battery and lewd or lascivious molestation, and he entered a no-contest plea to a charge of first-degree premeditated murder, as reported by WFTV. The plea deal came just before the jury selection for his sex crimes trial was to begin, bypassing the need for what would have surely been painful trials for the victim's family.
In an Osceola County courtroom, the 39-year-old faced, and agreed to, 21 concurrent life sentences, securing his permanent absence from society. Sterns had originally been slapped with 60 charges, which included the possession of child pornography, but prosecutors later dropped these charges following the plea agreement. Sterns also relinquished his right to appeal, marking a swift end to a case that could have dragged through the courts, according to a statement obtained by Orlando-News.
The case began when Madeline's disappearance sparked an extensive investigation. Evidence of Sterns' crimes surfaced in the form of disturbing photos and videos on his phone, which led to his arrest. Only two days after Madeline was reported missing, authorities found her body in a wooded area in Osceola County, making Sterns the primary suspect in her murder. Sterns, who dated the victim's mother, couldn't successfully appeal the case or exclude the damning evidence found during the investigation.
Both the prosecution and the defense reached a plea deal after meticulous discussions. Sterns, who had already been held without bond since his arrest, saw the death penalty originally pursued by prosecutors taken off the table with the acceptance of the plea.
