The Brief
- Stephen Sterns, the man accused of raping and murdering 13-year-old Madeline Soto in Florida, is asking a judge to ban the public and members of the press from attending his pre-trial court hearings.
- The motion states that the spread of information presented in the hearings would prevent Sterns from receiving a fair trial.
- Sterns is being charged with multiple counts of sexual battery on a child under 12, sexual battery with a child in 12-18 familial/custodial authority, lewd or lascivious molestation and unlawful possession of material depicting sexual performance by a child ten or more images.
ORLANDO, Fla. – Stephen Sterns, the man accused of raping and murdering 13-year-old Madeline Soto in Florida, is asking a judge to ban the public and members of the press from attending his pre-trial court hearings.
The motion, obtained through court documentation, states that the spread of information presented in the hearings would prevent Sterns from receiving a fair trial.
Why is the motion being requested?
What they’re saying:
According to official court documents, the motion was filed by a public defender representing Sterns on Wednesday, Feb. 19.…