Stephan Sterns, the man accused of raping and killing Kissimmee teen Madeline Soto, is scheduled to stand trial for 60 counts of sexual battery on a child under 12 and other sex crimes starting Tuesday, but now a hearing has been scheduled for Monday at 1:30 p.m. in the case. The hearing appeared on the court docket late Friday afternoon.
While the circuit court has not released documents into Tuesday, multiple sources are noting Monday's appearance will be a plea hearing, which could change the schedule of that trial next week.
A notice of hearing for Monday has been issued as part of Sterns' murder case filed by Beth Bourdon, the lead defense attorney in the murder case. That case, in which the state had filed to seek the death penalty, is tentatively scheduled for September.
Sterns, 39, originally pled not guilty to the state's charges he sexually assaulted Madeline Soto, the daughter of his then-girlfriend Jennifer Soto, for as many as four years.
