A 15-year-old has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for the brutal sexual assault and beating of a 91-year-old woman in her home. Jesse Stone, who was 14 years old at the time of the crime, pleaded guilty in November to sexual assault and burglary of a dwelling with battery.
The attack occurred on June 9, 2024, around midnight when Stone broke into the victim’s home, punched her repeatedly, and sexually assaulted her. The victim, who reportedly knew Stone because he mowed her lawn, fought back before he fled the scene.
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DNA evidence collected at the scene led Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputies to identify Stone as the suspect. He was arrested on June 17th and confessed to the crime during an interview with investigators.
Stone’s attorney argued in court that the teen suffers from ADHD and depression and that he was influenced by excessive pornography consumption. The attorney requested a sentence that included rehabilitation, expressing concern about the impact of the state prison system on a young sex offender.
However, Judge Lisa Herndon emphasized the severity of the crime, stating, “His actions are egregious, and the victim in this case is lucky to be alive.”
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She sentenced Stone to 25 years in prison, along with requirements for sex offender registration, anger management classes, and a mental health evaluation.
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