Latest news with #KissimmeePoliceDepartment
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Yahoo
Florida police officer pleads guilty in excessive force case that ignited scandal
ORLANDO, Fla.— The Kissimmee police officer whose brutal beating of a man two years ago sparked a scandal in his department pleaded guilty Friday to felony battery, witness tampering and official misconduct. Officer Andrew Baseggio now faces up to two years behind bars and must surrender his law enforcement certification, according to the plea agreement read in Osceola County court. The beating, the false report he wrote about the incident and the 'culture of cover-up' grand jurors said led his superiors to hide his actions and give him only an eight-hour suspension eventually led to the resignation of the then-chief of the Kissimmee Police Department. Baseggio, hired as a patrol officer at KPD in 2007, was accompanied in the courtroom by his attorney Jay Rooth as Judge Keith Carsten read out his guilty plea. They hustled out of the courthouse once the hearing concluded and did not comment to reporters. In exchange for his plea, he can be sentenced to far less time in prison than the 40 years he initially faced. He will not be sentenced for another two months pending a court investigation. As part of his plea, two other charges he faced — solicitation of perjury and misdemeanor battery — will be dropped. The plea also requires that he testify 'regarding any criminal activity as requested by the state,' though it is not clear for what investigation prosecutors might want his testimony. Representatives of Kissimmee Police Department and the Orange-Osceola State Attorney's Office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The case began with an April 2023 call about a disturbance at a home on Brack Street. Body-worn camera video showed Baseggio illegally entered without a warrant and then brutally beat 44-year-old Sean Kastner by kneeing him in the face and stunning him with a Taser seven times. He was then taken to a hospital with lacerations on his face and a nasal bone fracture. Baseggio later wrote an incident report that did not accurately describe what happened and then, following an internal investigation, was given an eight-hour suspension for the beating. The incident went unaddressed until prosecutors learned what happened from a TV news report. They then took the case before the grand jury, which returned an indictment against Baseggio. The grand jury's 34-page report questioned the credibility of 11 officers at KPD along with its top brass, including Chief Betty Holland. She resigned days ahead of the report's public release. The report accused Holland of not being truthful with prosecutors investigating the beating and found she had blocked attempts at a criminal investigation into Baseggio's actions. Officers who conducted the internal investigation sought to downplay the incident by falsely accusing Kastner of kicking at Baseggio, an effort to call the beating 'objectively reasonable,' the grand jury found. Holland had also kept Baseggio informed about the progress of outside investigations, which the report said allowed him to seek to influence the testimony of fellow officers. Then-State Attorney Andrew Bain presented the grand jury's report in October, telling reporters on the steps of the Osceola County Courthouse that the investigation into the officer 'was compromised from the beginning.' 'So we went back and re-interviewed a lot of those witnesses who were inside of that investigation, and it turned out that many of the things they said were falsified,' he said at the time. Prosecutors also determined KPD ran afoul of Florida law by not reporting to state authorities 15 excessive force cases involving other officers or Baseggio, a lapse stretching back a decade. The reporting of those cases was later rectified but yielded no charges against the accused officers. After Holland's resignation, city officials quickly replaced her with Orange County Sheriff's Office Maj. Robert Anzueto, who served as interim chief while OCSO conducted its own investigation into the Kissimmee department. Anzueto recused himself from that probe but moved to reform agency policies regarding internal investigations and other matters highlighted by the grand jury. Where the Sheriff's Office investigation stands is unclear. On April 1, Charles Broadway, the former Clermont police chief, was sworn in as Holland's permanent replacement and tasked with rebuilding the department's reputation. _____
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Yahoo
Kissimmee cop pleads guilty in excessive force case that ignited scandal
The Kissimmee police officer whose brutal beating of a man two years ago sparked a scandal in his department pleaded guilty Friday to felony battery, witness tampering and official misconduct. Officer Andrew Baseggio now faces up to two years behind bars and must surrender his law enforcement certification, according to the plea agreement read in Osceola County court. The beating, the false report he wrote about the incident and the 'culture of cover-up' grand jurors said led his superiors to hide his actions and give him only an eight-hour suspension eventually led to the resignation of the then-chief of the Kissimmee Police Department. Baseggio, hired as a patrol officer at KPD in 2007, was accompanied in the courtroom by his attorney Jay Rooth as Judge Keith Carsten read out his guilty plea. They hustled out of the courthouse once the hearing concluded and did not comment to reporters. In exchange for his plea, he can be sentenced to far less time in prison than the 40 years he initially faced. He will not be sentenced for another two months pending a court investigation. As part of his plea, two other charges he faced — solicitation of perjury and misdemeanor battery — will be dropped. The plea also requires that he testify 'regarding any criminal activity as requested by the state,' though it is not clear for what investigation prosecutors might want his testimony. Representatives of Kissimmee Police Department and the Orange-Osceola State Attorney's Office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The case began with an April 2023 call about a disturbance at a home on Brack Street. Body-worn camera video showed Baseggio illegally entered without a warrant and then brutally beat 44-year-old Sean Kastner by kneeing him in the face and stunning him with a Taser seven times. He was then taken to a hospital with lacerations on his face and a nasal bone fracture. Baseggio later wrote an incident report that did not accurately describe what happened and then, following an internal investigation, was given an eight-hour suspension for the beating. The incident went unaddressed until prosecutors learned what happened from a TV news report. They then took the case before the grand jury, which returned an indictment against Baseggio. The grand jury's 34-page report questioned the credibility of 11 officers at KPD along with its top brass, including Chief Betty Holland. She resigned days ahead of the report's public release. The report accused Holland of not being truthful with prosecutors investigating the beating and found she had blocked attempts at a criminal investigation into Baseggio's actions. Officers who conducted the internal investigation sought to downplay the incident by falsely accusing Kastner of kicking at Baseggio, an effort to call the beating 'objectively reasonable,' the grand jury found. Holland had also kept Baseggio informed about the progress of outside investigations, which the report said allowed him to seek to influence the testimony of fellow officers. Then-State Attorney Andrew Bain presented the grand jury's report in October, telling reporters on the steps of the Osceola County Courthouse that the investigation into the officer 'was compromised from the beginning.' 'So we went back and re-interviewed a lot of those witnesses who were inside of that investigation, and it turned out that many of the things they said were falsified,' he said at the time. Prosecutors also determined KPD ran afoul of Florida law by not reporting to state authorities 15 excessive force cases involving other officers or Baseggio, a lapse stretching back a decade. The reporting of those cases was later rectified but yielded no charges against the accused officers. After Holland's resignation, city officials quickly replaced her with Orange County Sheriff's Office Maj. Robert Anzueto, who served as interim chief while OCSO conducted its own investigation into the Kissimmee department. Anzueto recused himself from that probe but moved to reform agency policies regarding internal investigations and other matters highlighted by the grand jury. Where the Sheriff's Office investigation stands is unclear. On April 1, Charles Broadway, the former Clermont police chief, was sworn in as Holland's permanent replacement and tasked with rebuilding the department's reputation.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Yahoo
Judge denies Stephan Sterns' motion to ban the press, public from his pre-trial hearings
The Brief A judge denied Stephan Sterns' motion to close his pre-trial hearings in his sexual battery case, ruling that closure is not necessary to ensure a fair trial. Sterns' defense argued that widespread media coverage, including social media content, could impact his ability to receive an impartial trial. ORLANDO, Fla. - The public and members of the press will be allowed in Stephan Sterns' pre-trial hearings, according to new documents from the Osceola County Clerk of Courts. What we know The judge, who heard from the state prosecutor and Sterns' defense attorney during a court hearing last week, has denied Sterns' motion to close the three pre-trial hearings in his sexual battery case. "The Court finds that closure is not necessary to prevent a serious and imminent threat to the administration of justice", according to the judges' ruling. The ruling comes after the hearing held on March 20, 2025, in regard to the motion filed by Sterns'. The motion, obtained through court documentation, states that the spread of information presented in the hearings would prevent Sterns from receiving a fair trial. According to official court documents, the motion was filed by a public defender representing Sterns' on Feb. 19. The motion requested that all pre-trial proceedings be closed in his sexual battery case. A similar motion was also filed in Sterns' separate homicide case. Sterns' defense attorney provided various media coverage, including podcasts, YouTube videos, Reddit feeds and TikTok videos about the case as support for their motion. The backstory Sterns was the live-in boyfriend of Madeline's mother. He is facing a first-degree murder charge in the teen's death. An indictment said Sterns allegedly killed Madeline between Feb. 25 and Feb. 27, 2024. Officials originally said Madeline was last seen by Sterns after he allegedly dropped her off a few blocks from her school. Orange County Sheriff John Mina later announced that Madeline was never dropped off at school and was dead before the school bell rang that day. Sterns allegedly moved her body in the morning hours of that day after killing her in Kissimmee, investigators said. The case was ultimately turned over to the Kissimmee Police Department. The backstory Madeline was a student at Hunter's Creek Middle School in Orlando. She was reported missing on Feb. 26, 2024, after her mother, Jennifer Soto, went to pick her up from school and was told that her daughter was not in class that day. Her body was found days later on March 1, 2024, off Old Hickory Tree Road in rural Osceola County. Madeline was found dead in the area where Sterns was last seen possibly changing a flat tire, wearing clothing similar to what she was last seen in. Prior to her murder, Madeline had recently turned 13 and celebrated her birthday the day before she disappeared. What's next Sterns' defense attorneys plan to pursue several motions, including requests to suppress evidence and testimony, such as Sterns' statements to the police and evidence related to minor children. They may also seek a change of venue due to extensive media coverage. Sterns' sexual battery trial is scheduled to begin on May 5. His murder trial is slated for Sept. 22. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO: Download the FOX Local app for breaking news alerts, the latest news headlines Download the FOX 35 Storm Team Weather app for weather alerts & radar Sign up for FOX 35's daily newsletter for the latest morning headlines FOX Local: Stream FOX 35 newscasts, FOX 35 News+, Central Florida Eats on your smart TV The Source This story was written based on previous reporting, as well as information gathered from Osceola County court records. Sunday, Feb. 25: Madeline Soto's 13th birthday celebration Monday, Feb. 26: Madeline Soto was last seen at 8:30 a.m., didn't make it to school Tuesday, Feb. 27: Madeline Soto's missing poster was released, officials begin search Tuesday night, Feb. 27: Madeline Soto's mom, Jenn Soto, speaks with FOX 35; would-be suspect appears in background Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 28: Orange County Sheriff John Mina hosts press conference about ongoing search Wednesday night, Feb. 28: Mom's boyfriend Stephan Sterns arrested on unrelated charges, named 'prime suspect' in Madeline Soto case Thursday, Feb. 29: Kissimmee Police Department releases Stephan Sterns' arrest affidavit Thursday, Feb. 29: Body language expert assesses Stephan Sterns' body language in Zoom interview with Jenn Soto Friday morning, March 1: Stephan Sterns dodges questions from FOX 35 while being transferred from Orange County to Osceola County Friday afternoon, March 1: Officials say they're 'confident' that Madeline Soto is dead Friday afternoon, March 1: Multi-agency search for Madeline Soto near area where Stephen Sterns was last seen Friday afternoon, March 1: Body found amid search for Madeline Soto Saturday morning, March 2: Stephan Sterns waives first appearance in court Wednesday, March 6: New court documents allege Stephan Sterns may have abused Madeline Soto years before her disappearance, death Tuesday, March 12: State Attorney's Office files 60 additional charges against Stephan Sterns Thursday, March 21: Kissimmee Police Chief holds press conference with updates about investigation Wednesday, April 4: State Attorney Andrew Bain explains why more information has not been released into the Madeline Soto death investigation Wednesday, April 4: FOX 35 obtained the 911 calls from the morning 13-year-old Madeline Soto went missing from Orange County Saturday, April 15: Maddie Soto's family and community members gathered at a vigil Saturday to remember the 13-year-old who was found dead days after she was reported missing in February. Wednesday, April 24: An Osceola County judge granted a motion to continue the pretrial for Stephan Sterns. Wednesday, April 24: A new trial date has been set for Stephan Sterns after an Osceola County judge granted the defense's motion for more time during a pretrial hearing. Thursday, April 25: Stephan Sterns has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of 13-year-old Florida girl Madeline Soto. Monday, June 10: The State Attorney's Office intends to seek the death penalty against Stephan Sterns, the man accused of killing his girlfriend's daughter, 13-year-old Madeline "Maddie" Soto, according to court records – should he be convicted. Wednesday, July 10: Attorneys for Stephan Sterns, who was charged for the murder of 13-year-old Madeline Soto, have filed motions to continue both trials. Thursday, August 22: New police interviews with Stephan Sterns, Jennifer Soto from hours after teen went 'missing' Friday, August 23: New documents obtained by FOX 35 this week show that the teen's mother may have known about that alleged abuse. Monday, August 26: Madeline Soto's mom admits to knowing Stephan Sterns was 'grooming and abusing' her daughter, documents show. Monday, August 26: New documents shed light on how Madeline Soto's body got to the rural location it was eventually found at, and, ultimately, how she died. Monday, October 14: Trial date set for Stephan Sterns Wednesday, October 23: Kissimmee police revealed new information in the ongoing investigation. Alleged killer Stephan Sterns secretly filmed naked roommate, officials say. Friday, October 25: "I didn't start it" Those are the words Stephen Sterns told his parents in a recorded call from jail, audio which was released to FOX 35 Orlando. Thursday, February 6: Stephan Sterns and his attorney file dozens of motions ahead of his murder trial set to begin in September. Asking to strike the death penalty and to have all physical restraint devices removed from Sterns during trial proceedings. Wednesday, February 12: Stephan Sterns wants phone evidence tossed ahead of child sex crimes trial. Wednesday, February 19: Stephan Sterns asks judge to ban public, press from court hearing. Wednesday, February 26: Remembering the 13-year-old one year later; accused killer preps for trial. Tuesday, March 4: New details released in the death of Madeline Soto, one year since the initial report Wednesday, March 5:Watch: Stephan Sterns 2-hour interrogation amid Madeline Soto disappearance Thursday, March 20: Madeline Soto update: Will the media, public be banned from Stephan Sterns' pretrial court hearings? Friday, March 21: Maddie Soto update: Stephen Sterns jailhouse calls released
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Kissimmee Police Department welcomes two new members search and rescue operations
The Kissimmee Police Department is expanding with two new police dogs. Sisters Dutchess and Belle will help with criminal and missing person searches, specifically those with autism, Alzheimer or dementia. The police department said Duchess and Belle are highly trained bloodhounds that will help the department find people much faster. 'At any point in time, we could be called upon to find a missing person or suspect. There is no doubt in my mind that canine Dutchess and her Sister Belle are more than capable with their very, very powerful noses to find whoever we are looking for.' Kissimmee Police said. Dutchess and Belle completed a rigorous training program that sometimes included 12-hour days. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Kissimmee Police Department welcomes two new members search and rescue operations
The Kissimmee Police Department is expanding with two new police dogs. Sisters Dutchess and Belle will help with criminal and missing person searches, specifically those with autism, Alzheimer or dementia. The police department said Duchess and Belle are highly trained bloodhounds that will help the department find people much faster. 'At any point in time, we could be called upon to find a missing person or suspect. There is no doubt in my mind that canine Dutchess and her Sister Belle are more than capable with their very, very powerful noses to find whoever we are looking for.' Kissimmee Police said. Dutchess and Belle completed a rigorous training program that sometimes included 12-hour days. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
