FL - Madeline Soto, 13, Missing Child Alert, 13500 blk Town Loop Blvd, Orlando, 26 Feb 2024 *arrest* #14

[johnlair]

It's June 30, and still no decision from the judge regarding the phone evidence.

What is the durn hold-up???

At the end of the day he is seen clearly agreeing for them to check his phone ....they know what was on it.. this is what riles me with modern law he should have no leg to stand on

 

[Spectrix]

At the end of the day he is seen clearly agreeing for them to check his phone ....they know what was on it.. this is what riles me with modern law he should have no leg to stand on

There's a couple of different components with the phone data.
As far as I understand, even if the phone data itself was excluded due to non consent / lack of warrant, the prosecution still have the same CSAM images which were backed up to Google drive and recovered directly from Google via a subpoena.

So I don't really see how the defendant is going to be able to avoid the charges in relation to those 1700+ CSAM IMAGES -

• 8 counts of sexual battery of a child under 12
• 5 counts of sexual battery with a child aged 12 to 18
• 7 counts of lewd and lascivious molestation
• 40 counts of unlawful possession of materials depicting CSAM

Then there's also the 35000+ CSAM images which were found on a USB drive, but I can't see any charges related to those. I think it would be more difficult to get a conviction for these ones because the USB drive was reportedly found by Stephen Stern's father, in a box in the storage unit - so there would be obvious chain of custody issues ( ie how do you tie them directly to SS?).

There's also the pictures that he reportedly took of one of the housemates under the bathroom door. Which again, I can't see any charges for those as yet.

 

[IzzyBlanche]

The phone evidence is in.

State can use Stephan Sterns’ cellphone to prove he raped 13-year-old Madeline Soto, judge rules

KISSIMMEE, Fla.

www.clickorlando.com

 

[Jo in Calif]

The phone evidence is in.

State can use Stephan Sterns’ cellphone to prove he raped 13-year-old Madeline Soto, judge rules

KISSIMMEE, Fla.

www.clickorlando.com

You're toast SS, might as well ask for a plea deal.

 

[Spectrix]

You're toast SS, might as well ask for a plea deal.

It sure is interesting that SS has entered a not guilty plea for every single charge against him. Particularly the sexual battery and CSAM charges where there is direct photographic and video evidence on his phone of him performing the acts.
"It wasn't me!"
He may be a master at lies and manipulation, but I don't think he's going to be able to lie and manipulate his way out of this one.

 

[IzzyBlanche]

I will be shocked if SS doesn't seek a plea deal. IMO if the phone evidence is in, there is no possible defense, especially if he appears in the images.

 

[CuriousCricket]

I will be shocked if SS doesn't seek a plea deal. IMO if the phone evidence is in, there is no possible defense, especially if he appears in the images.

I agree, but wonder why / if the prosecution would ever consider one. In my opinion, he was toast before, burnt toast now with this ruling.

 

[IzzyBlanche]

I agree, but wonder why / if the prosecution would ever consider one. In my opinion, he was toast before, burnt toast now with this ruling.

Perhaps to save the state the cost of a trial, and/or to spare potential jurors from the trauma of having to view those images?

Also I can't help but think that cooperating in the CSAM trial would give his lawyers a reason to plead for LWOP in the sentencing phase of his murder trial, should he be convicted.

 

[Spectrix]

Also I can't help but think that cooperating in the CSAM trial would give his lawyers a reason to plead for LWOP in the sentencing phase of his murder trial, should he be convicted.

In one of his jail phone calls to his parents, Stephen Stern spoke about the possibility of life behind bars and then said that the death penalty via lethal injection would be a much easier option - "...you fall asleep and then you go to heaven"

I'm not sure where he's going, but it's probably not heaven.

 

[PayrollNerd]

In one of his jail phone calls to his parents, Stephen Stern spoke about the possibility of life behind bars and then said that the death penalty via lethal injection would be a much easier option - "...you fall asleep and then you go to heaven"

I'm not sure where he's going, but it's probably not heaven.

Well, if he wants the death penalty, let’s send him straight to it. I’ll even be so kind as to give him a water bottle……. We all know he’ll need it at his final destination.

 

[lonetraveler]

Well, we already know about all the child sex abuse and the he filmed. If he wants to make a deal, the murder of Madeline Soto needs to be addressed.

 

[johnlair]

I will be shocked if SS doesn't seek a plea deal. IMO if the phone evidence is in, there is no possible defense, especially if he appears in the images.

Do you think he will try blaming his medication saying he doesn't remember or something dumb like that because let's face it the guy really is dumb

 

[Megnut]

Do you think he will try blaming his medication saying he doesn't remember or something dumb like that because let's face it the guy really is dumb

Rootbeer barrel defense. Throw them at the wall, see what they stick to.

Ample evidence he's really dumb, but the juries won't be. I hate already for what they'll have to see.

If ever there were a case for the accused to just plead guilty and be done with it, it's this one. He has no defense, he recorded most of the evidence against himself. Diminished capacity in that whiny head, sure, but not so diminished he didn't know right from wrong which is The Gold Standard for competence IMO.

Factory reset alone proves consciousness of guilt.

He needs to plead guilty and go away for good.

JMO

 

[Gemmie]

Factory reset alone proves consciousness of guilt.

He needs to plead guilty and go away for good.

JMO

Let's not forget he reset it not once, but twice! It'll have to be JMO because I found that info in my notes, that I had taken from @Mack the Knife's notes. Stupidly I didn't record his source. This is what I had pasted into my notes:

Another factory reset was done on Stephan`s cellular phone on 02/27/2024 at 0000 hours. This would be the timeframe of his last statements to law enforcement and before he drove Jennifer`s car to Saint Cloud.

 

[61Montcalm]

Rootbeer barrel defense. Throw them at the wall, see what they stick to.

Ample evidence he's really dumb, but the juries won't be. I hate already for what they'll have to see.

If ever there were a case for the accused to just plead guilty and be done with it, it's this one. He has no defense, he recorded most of the evidence against himself. Diminished capacity in that whiny head, sure, but not so diminished he didn't know right from wrong which is The Gold Standard for competence IMO.

Factory reset alone proves consciousness of guilt.

He needs to plead guilty and go away for good.

JMO

I couldn't agree with you more!

 

[girlhasnoname]

Rootbeer barrel defense. Throw them at the wall, see what they stick to.

Ample evidence he's really dumb, but the juries won't be. I hate already for what they'll have to see.

If ever there were a case for the accused to just plead guilty and be done with it, it's this one. He has no defense, he recorded most of the evidence against himself. Diminished capacity in that whiny head, sure, but not so diminished he didn't know right from wrong which is The Gold Standard for competence IMO.

Factory reset alone proves consciousness of guilt.

He needs to plead guilty and go away for good.

JMO

I have been keeping up although not actively posting. It's just so sad and disgusting.

Even though I'm not typically a proponent of the DP, this case is one that cries out for the ultimate punishment iMO. Irrefutable proof of video evidence proving him SA-ing MS from the time she was 8 years old. No doubt whatsoever. Florida, please fast track this monster to the front of the execution line.

I think those videos may well have ended up on the dark web sold, or traded, exchanged by other unfathomable child rapists and murderers. It's utterly devastating and sickening to even think about.

JMO

#Justice4Madeline

 

[girlhasnoname]

Do you think he will try blaming his medication saying he doesn't remember or something dumb like that because let's face it the guy really is dumb

Dumb does not negate the actions of this child predator. I'd love to know what his actual IQ is, we might be surprised to find it higher than we think. Dumb could just be an act to get what he wants from people. (Parents, partners, LE, etc.)

JMO

 

[Spectrix]

I think those videos may well have ended up on the dark web sold, or traded, exchanged by other unfathomable child rapists and murderers. It's utterly devastating and sickening to even think about.

Something I found really interesting in the interviews with the parents was that they were saying that even though he wasn't working and was bumming money off them, he still kept ordering lots of expensive things and that packages were always arriving.
They had no idea where the money came from.

 

[lonetraveler]

I want SS in general population and I want some Billy Bad to claim him as his girlfriend. JMO

 

[LetsSolvIt]

I want SS in general population and I want some Billy Bad to claim him as his girlfriend. JMO

Yeah! What goes around, comes around. OMO.