ST. PETERSBURG, FL — A former Bay Pines VA Healthcare System police office has been indicted for using excessive force against an Army veteran.

Last week, United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announced the return of an indictment charging Norman Nicholson, 56, of Largo with one count of making false records in a federal investigation and one count of depriving an individual of their rights under color of law.

If convicted, Nicholson faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the obstruction charge and up to one year in federal prison for the civil rights violation.