Suspect in Madeline Soto case faces 60 new sex abuse charges

(NewsNation) — Florida prosecutors announced Tuesday they are filing 60 new criminal sex abuse charges against Stephan Sterns, a suspect in the death of Madeline Soto.

Sterns, who was dating Soto’s mother, was first arrested during the search for 13-year-old Soto, who was reported missing after her mother went to pick her up from middle school and found she wasn’t there. During the investigation police found child sexual abuse materials on Stern’s phone.

Police said during the initial arrest that the images and video on Stern’s phone, which he had attempted to delete, were taken at his home.

Soto’s body was found in the woods in Osceola County, and Sterns was seen on camera dropping her laptop and school backpack into a dumpster the morning she disappeared. While he has not yet been charged in Soto’s death, according to court documents, Sterns had been abusing Soto for at least two years.

According to the State Attorney’s Office for the 9th Judicial Circuit, police found additional images and videos showing criminal acts. Sterns is being charged with eight counts of sexual battery on a child under 12, five counts of sexual battery on a child 12-18, seven counts of lewd and lascivious molestation and 40 counts of unlawful possession of materials depicting sexual performance by a child 10 or more.

“With this being a complex case with many facets, our work is not done, and we are continuing our investigation into the timeline leading up to Madeline’s death,” said Kissimmee Chief of Police Betty Holland.

Sterns is being held without bond by the Osceola County Department of Corrections.