Trial date delayed, but set, in Stephan Sterns' sexual battery trial

Accused Madeline Soto killer faces 60 charges besides her murder

  • Stephan Sterns is now expected to stand trial for the sexual battery of Madeline Soto on July 25, with jury selection beginning earlier that week.
    Stephan Sterns is now expected to stand trial for the sexual battery of Madeline Soto on July 25, with jury selection beginning earlier that week.

    The trial for Stephen Sterns, the man accused of sexually abusing and killing Kissimmee teen Madeline Soto, will now stand trial beginning July 25.

    During a status hearing Wednesday, Judge Keith Carsten set the dates of the trial, originally scheduled to begin July 15, back about a week. Jury selection is expected to begin July 22 and could take up to two days; the state expects to bring a pools of 50 potential jurors each morning and afternoon.  

    The 60 charges against Sterns in this case include capital sexual battery, lewd or lascivious molestation and unlawful possession of materials depicting a child sexual performance. Sterns waived his appearance at Wednesday's hearing.

    This case does not include the murder charge, which is death penalty-eligible. That is tentatively scheduled for September.

    Prosecutors and Sterns' defense had filed a joint motion to continue the case. Assistant State Attorney William Jay noted a fellow member of the State Attorney's office working on the case has left the office and is on vacation — but will return to work the trial — and communication with to update her has been spotty. Defense attorney Aleisha Smith said she anticipated receiving and reviewing potential new evidence from the state. 

    Last week, the defense filed a motion in the sexual battery charges case to remove newspapers from the courthouse during Sterns' trial proceedings. Carsten mentioned but did not rule on the motion.

    "This case has garnered extensive media coverage throughout Osceola County and the surrounding areas, with developments in the case consistently making front-page headlines in local newspapers including, but not limited to, the Osceola News-Gazette," the motion reads, naming this publication specifically.

    The motion goes on: "On March 4, 2025, newspapers were prominently displayed in the courthouse with the headline "REMEMBERING MADDIE," referring to the alleged victim in this case. Such emotionally charged headlines in the courthouse itself create an atmosphere that substantially prejudices the Defendant's right to a fair trial."