July 21 (UPI) — Stephan Sterns was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole after pleading guilty Monday to raping and killing 13-year-old Madeline Soto in central Florida.
Osceola County Circuit Judge Keith Carsten immediately sentenced Sterns, 39, after a plea deal of no contest to first-degree murder and guilty to 20 counts of sex crimes. Prosecutors had planned to seek the death penalty during the trial.
He originally was charged with 60 counts of sexual abuse dating to when she was 11.
“It is not fair Madeline is not here,” Sterns said before the sentencing in the Orlando courtroom. “I prayed to God countless times to trade places with her and take me instead. She truly was a joy. I apologize for all the pain.”…