MARION COUNTY, Fla. — Jesse Stone sat quietly, appearing to pray to himself as he waited for the judge to take her seat.
▶ WATCH CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS
A half-hour later, that judge sentenced Stone to 25 years in prison for sexually assaulting a 91-year-old neighbor in the small community of Reddick last summer, as the teen sat emotionless.
“Mr. Stone this is unfortunate for you, for the victim, for both of your families,” Judge Lisa Herndon said.
During the hearing, Stone’s grandmother and legal guardian said both of the now-teen’s parents largely abandoned him as a young child. She said his father introduced him to pornography as a 4th grader, which prosecutors later said developed into an addiction.
His mother, the grandmother claimed, came back for his sister but not him. She said lately the mother has blocked Stone from seeing his sister, who he almost raised, and that sent Stone over the edge.
Read: Tariff Tension: How tariffs could affect central Florida home prices
While the grandmother tried to impose some structure on Stone’s life, prosecutors said he sought out the victim, who he mowed the lawn for, because she was kind to him and more relaxed.
They said she let him use her iPad, which he consumed pornography on.
Prosecutors said the midnight attack on the woman, which featured Stone beating her head, holding a pillow over her face and sexually assaulting her, developed as a result of him losing control amid one of his fantasies.
“Had he gotten the help that he needed we wouldn’t be here right now,” the grandmother said, claiming her calls to police and school counselors went nowhere.
Read: Orlando Police are in search of a missing man
Despite pleas from the grandmother and Stone’s attorney for leniency, including the chance for him to be released on his 21st birthday, citing his age and lack of criminal history, the judge wasn’t moved.
After the hearing, one of the victim’s family members said Stone, who accepted a plea deal to avoid the possibility of life in prison, should’ve gotten more time.
“I don’t believe someone that does what he did can be rehabilitated,” the family member wrote.
Read: Masked suspects rob, shoot Daytona Beach woman, stealing thousands of dollars
Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
©2025 Cox Media Group
