KISSIMMEE, Fla. – A former police officer has pleaded guilty in a use of force case that led to the resignation of high-ranking members of the Kissimmee Police Department.
In a hearing on Friday, Andrew Baseggio entered a guilty plea on a count of felony battery, two counts witness tampering, and a count of official misconduct.
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Watch the video below of Andrew Baseggio in court for a plea hearing.
As part of the agreement, prosecutors have declined to prosecute Bassegio on a count of solicitation for perjury and a count of battery.
Baseggio was accused of entering a home in April 2023 without a warrant and used force “not consistent with (the) Kissimmee Police Department’s use of force policy” to take a man into custody, causing the man to suffer serious bodily injuries, according to prosecutors.
In the months that followed, the Orange-Osceola State Attorney’s Office addressed concerns about truthfulness and conduct among nearly a dozen officers.
“The grand jury found that the Kissimmee Police Department fosters a culture of silence where officer misconduct is not only not reported, but accepted,” Assistant State Attorney Ryan Williams said in October. “Evidence and testimony presented to the grand jury showed officers failed to report (Andrew) Baseggio’s excessive use of force, which went on for several minutes without intervention from two other officers who were on the scene.”
In the wake of the investigation, several officers resigned from the department, including Chief Betty Holland and Deputy Chief Camille Alicea.
Bassegio was facing up to 40 years in prison, but with Friday’s plea agreement, the maximum sentence he could receive is 24 months.
Sentencing for Bassegio is expected to happen in late June.
