A former Kissimmee firefighter is now serving a life sentence, and the child's mother is serving 30 years, after both were convicted in a child abuse case that first came to light in late 2020.
How the Case Began
In November 2020, Apopka police were called to the home of Argelio Pupo and Morgan Keene after witnesses reported a possible instance of child abuse involving Keene's 7-year-old daughter. During the investigation that followed, the child disclosed abuse that authorities determined had taken place earlier that year, in May 2020.
Investigators also found that after the abuse occurred, Keene purchased sewing kit materials rather than seeking medical treatment for her daughter's injuries — a decision that came up repeatedly during the case, including in text messages Keene exchanged with a friend who worked as a nurse. When the friend urged her to take the child to a doctor, Keene said she was too embarrassed to do so.
When police first questioned Keene, she denied any knowledge of the abuse and declined to consent to a forensic medical exam for her daughter.
The Charges and Trial
Pupo, then a firefighter with the Kissimmee Fire Department, was charged with multiple counts of sexual battery on a child under 12, along with aggravated child abuse, neglect, molestation, and use of a child in a sexual performance. He was found guilty on all ten counts and sentenced to life in prison on December 1, 2022.
Keene entered a plea agreement in August 2022. She pleaded no contest to a reduced charge of attempted sexual battery of a child under 12 and agreed to a 30-year sentence in exchange for cooperating with prosecutors and testifying against Pupo.
Where the Case Stands Now
Keene later appealed her sentence. On March 4, 2025, Florida's Sixth District Court of Appeal affirmed the original ruling, closing that avenue of appeal. Both Pupo and Keene remain incarcerated under their original sentences.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this case still open?
No. Pupo was convicted and sentenced to life in prison, Keene was sentenced to 30 years under a plea agreement, and Keene's appeal was denied in 2025. The case is closed.
Why did Keene receive a shorter sentence than Pupo?
As part of her plea agreement, Keene pleaded no contest to a reduced charge and agreed to testify against Pupo during his trial.
Did Pupo appeal his conviction?
Available records show Keene pursued an appeal, which was denied. No public appeal record exists for Pupo's life sentence as of this writing.
Sources
Former Kissimmee Firefighter Sentenced to Life for Raping 7-Year-Old Stepdaughter, Mother Agrees to 30 Years — Positively Osceola
https://www.positivelyosceola.com/former-kissimmee-firefighter-sentenced-to-life-for-raping-7-year-old-stepdaughter-mother-agrees-to-30-years/
Former Kissimmee Firefighter Gets Life Sentence in Child Rape Case — Click Orlando (WKMG)
https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2022/12/13/former-kissimmee-firefighter-gets-life-sentence-in-child-rape-case/
Morgan Keene vs. State of Florida — Florida Sixth District Court of Appeal, Case No. 6D2023-1996
https://law.justia.com/cases/florida/sixth-district-court-of-appeal/2025/6d23-1996.html