By A 14-year-old Florida teenager has pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting and beating a 91-year-old woman in her home, Marion County officials said, in a case that shocked veteran law enforcement officers.
Jesse Stone, initially charged with sexual assault by someone under 18 and burglary with battery, changed his not guilty plea to guilty last week, according to court records. He faces sentencing December 19, with prosecutors planning to try him as an adult.
“It came as a shock that any individual would commit such an act on a 91-year-old, but it is truly disturbing when we see the young age of the arrestee,” Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods said following Stone’s June arrest.
The attack occurred June 9 when the victim awoke to find an intruder in her home. According to court documents, Stone “pounced” on the woman and punched her in the face before sexually assaulting her. DNA evidence later linked Stone to the crime, leading to his confession during an interview with Detective Caitlin Hartigan.
Investigators said Stone approached detectives during their neighborhood canvas, directing them to surveillance footage showing someone matching his build jogging past the victim’s home. He initially denied being the person in the footage but later admitted entering the house to watch pornography before the attack.
“This type of unimaginable violence is still shocking to me after all of my years in law enforcement,” Woods said, adding, “Although I firmly believe he should be held accountable for his crime, as a father, my compassion goes out to his family. Hopefully his arrest will lead to getting him help that prevents any further such acts.”
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