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personpersonStephen EverettStephen EverettJudge Stephen Everett presided over both the Charlie Adelson and Donna Adelson trials.← All People
JudgeLeon County Circuit Court

Stephen Everett

Courtroom still of Stephen Everett.

Judge Stephen Everett presided over both the Charlie Adelson and Donna Adelson trials.

AppearedCharlie AdelsonDonna Adelson
3,680 lines·335 proceedings·2 trials

About

Judge Stephen Everett presided over Charlie Adelson’s 2023 trial and Donna Adelson’s 2025 trial. Across both proceedings, he instructed jurors on the burden of proof, the defendants’ rights, witness credibility, deliberations, and restrictions on outside research or discussion. He decided disputes over written and recorded evidence, evidentiary foundations, witness procedures, and defense motions for judgment of acquittal. In Charlie Adelson’s trial, his rulings addressed proposed impeachment, inaudible markers in a transcript demonstrative, and the admission of selected text messages. In Donna Adelson’s trial, he addressed alleged motive emails, Wendi Adelson’s subpoena immunity and a defense proffer, disclosure of an enhanced recording, and testimony following a sequestration violation. During the State’s closing in Donna Adelson’s trial, he overruled a defense objection alleging burden shifting and a comment on her silence, reiterated that she bore no burden, and later cautioned Cappleman on both subjects. After guilty verdicts on all three counts in each trial, he conducted jury polling and moved the cases into post-verdict proceedings.

Trial Record (335)

CACharlie AdelsonOct 26, 2023 – Nov 6, 2023

Judge Stephen Everett presided over the trial, ruled on evidentiary and procedural disputes, and instructed jurors on the three charges, witness credibility, reasonable doubt, and deliberations. On Day 8, he received guilty verdicts on all counts, conducted a jury poll, discharged the jurors, and set post-verdict procedures.

Day 1

Day 2

ProceduralMotion in Limine: Exclusion of Lacasse Proffer on Wendi Adelson's Alleged Hitman Statement — Ruled Out on Fairness GroundsJeffrey Lacasse1highlight46lines spoken

Summary

The court barred proposed impeachment of Wendi Adelson through Jeffrey Lacasse on fairness grounds, heard a proffer outside the jury's presence, and temporarily applied the same ruling to the celebration-dinner issue.

Highlights (1)

Quote“On fundamental fairness grounds, I am not going to permit the impeachment on this topic.”— Stephen EverettThe court stated the basis for excluding the proposed impeachment despite its earlier discussion of impeachment evidence.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
ProceduralLunch Recess9lines spoken

Summary

The court recessed for lunch, reminded defense counsel to keep future proffers from being overheard, and then resumed the State's case.

Day 3

Day 4

ProceduralDolce Vita Transcript Demonstrative — Defense Objection and Ruling on Inaudible Markers1highlight17lines spoken

Summary

The court required the Dolce Vita transcript demonstrative to preserve “inaudible” markers and allowed further foundation questioning before jury display.

Highlights (1)

Quote“But as far as using the demonstrative, it has to be accurate in all respects.”— Stephen EverettThe court stated the condition governing use of the transcript demonstrative.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

Day 5

ProceduralDefense Motion for Judgment of Acquittal — Denied on All Counts1highlight13lines spoken

Summary

The court denied the defense motion for judgment of acquittal on all charges and noted renewed objections for the record.

Highlights (1)

Quote“the evidence must be viewed in the light most favorable to the State, the motion for judgment of acquittal is going to be denied.”— Stephen EverettThe court stated the governing standard and denied the defense motion on all charges.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

Day 6

ProceduralArguments Outside Jury — Composite Text Message Exhibit Excluded1highlight12lines spoken

Summary

The court excluded a composite text-message exhibit but allowed the defense to seek admission of specific relevant, non-hearsay messages separately.

Highlights (1)

Quote“But as a composite on the whole, the 403 issues, the relevance and hearsay issues I believe compel me to deny their admission.”— Stephen EverettThe judge stated the grounds for excluding the composite text-message exhibit.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
ProceduralPartial Admission of Composite Text Exhibit; Direct Examination Scheduling1highlight20lines spoken

Summary

The court partially admitted defense text messages, excluded the remainder, and warned the gallery against reacting during testimony.

Highlights (1)

Quote“All right. Over the State's objection, the texts between the defendant and Ms. Magbanua will be admitted on 7/18. As far as the other texts, the Court is not going to admit them on grounds of relevance and hearsay.”— Stephen EverettThe ruling partially admitted the defense's proposed text-message evidence while excluding the rest.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

Day 7

Charge ConferenceCharge Conference — Jury Instructions Finalized for All Three Counts1highlight103lines spoken

Summary

The court finalized jury instructions and verdict forms, waived lesser-included offenses, and overruled a defense objection to a separate intent instruction.

Highlights (1)

Quote“I'm going to give the instruction as requested from the State as it does meet the grounds outlined in Butler.”— Stephen EverettThe court overruled the defense objection and adopted a separate instruction defining intent.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

Day 8

DADonna AdelsonAug 22, 2025 – Sep 4, 2025

Judge Stephen Everett presided over the nine-day trial, ruling on disputed evidence and managing witnesses, jurors, and the parties' motions. He denied the defense motions for judgment of acquittal, delivered the final jury instructions, and adjudicated Donna Adelson guilty after the jury returned guilty verdicts on all three counts.

Day 1

Jury InstructionPreliminary Jury Instructions — Charges, Trial Procedure, and Juror Conduct2highlights17lines spoken

Summary

The court instructed jurors on the charges, the State's burden of proof, the defendant's right to remain silent, and restrictions on outside research and communication.

Highlights (2)

Quote“It is your solemn responsibility to determine if the State proved its accusations, beyond a reasonable doubt, against Donna Adelson, in accordance with the law that I will provide to you.”— Stephen EverettStates the jury's burden-of-proof instruction at the outset of trial.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
Quote“At no time is it the duty of a defendant to prove her innocence.”— Stephen EverettStates the instruction on the defendant's right to remain silent and the absence of any burden to prove innocence.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
ProceduralOJP — Contested Admissibility of Composite Email Exhibit 641highlight49lines spoken

Summary

The court made several pre-witness rulings on disputed emails, permitting some as alleged motive evidence while requiring a limiting instruction, redaction, or further foundation for others.

Highlights (1)

Quote“Specifically, as Counts 2 and Count 1 that are charged in the Indictment deal with aspects of intent, I am going to find evidence that demonstrates the defendant's alleged motive, which goes specifically to intent is admissible.”— Stephen EverettThe court explained its basis for permitting motive-related evidence despite the defense objections.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

Day 2

Day 3

sidebarReported Juror Contact Concerns17lines spoken

Summary

Counsel disclosed an anonymous report about a possible jury-selection restroom conversation and asked about jurors and audience members sharing break areas, with no specific improper contact identified.

Day 4

Day 5

ProceduralRichardson Hearing — McElveen Enhanced Recording & Search Warrant Photos2highlights21lines spoken

Summary

The court found an inadvertent discovery violation involving an enhanced recording but no prejudice, and deferred review of newly disclosed search-warrant photographs.

Highlights (2)

Quote“So as to a prejudicial effect, the Court will find there is not one.”— Stephen EverettThe court found the late disclosure of the enhanced recording had not prejudiced the defense's trial preparation.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

Day 6

Day 7

Day 8

ProceduralFranklin Witness Dispute and Defendant Testimony Deadline3highlights25lines spoken

Summary

Judge Everett declined to compel an un-subpoenaed potential witness to speak with the defense, heard the sheriff's office account, and set a same-day deadline on whether Donna Adelson would testify.

Highlights (3)

rulingJudge Everett said the court could not compel an un-subpoenaed, undisclosed potential witness to speak with the defense, but allowed testimony from Undersheriff Google about the defense's concern.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
procedural actionJudge Everett directed the defense to act quickly if it wished to subpoena Deputy Franklin and required a lunch-break decision on whether Donna Adelson would testify.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
Quote“After that, we are going to have to go on the record concerning is she or is she not testifying.”— Stephen EverettThe court set a same-day deadline for the defense to state whether Donna Adelson would testify.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

Day 9

ProceduralJury Instruction Colloquy — Lesser-Included Waiver, Calendar Rule-of-Completeness Ruling, Renewed JOA2highlights37lines spoken

Summary

Donna Adelson waived lesser-included offenses on Count 1; the court denied additional calendar evidence and the renewed motion for judgment of acquittal.

Highlights (2)

Quote“As to the jury instructions, I will remove second-degree murder and manslaughter as options.”— Stephen EverettThe court implemented Donna Adelson's waiver of lesser-included offenses on Count 1.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
Quote“This is not an issue of completeness, as the Court finds.”— Stephen EverettThe court reaffirmed its denial of the defense request to introduce additional calendar pages.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
Jury InstructionFinal Jury Instructions2highlights15lines spoken

Summary

The court instructed jurors on the charges, burden of proof, witness evaluation, deliberation rules, and verdict form.

Highlights (2)

Quote“The defendant exercised a fundamental right by choosing not to be a witness in this case. You must not view this as an admission of guilt or be influenced in any way by her decision.”— Stephen EverettDirects jurors not to draw an adverse inference from Donna Adelson's decision not to testify.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶