Milwaukee man charged with fleeing to Ireland to avoid imprisonment for January 6 crimes

A Milwaukee man has been charged with fleeing to Ireland in an attempt to escape imprisonment for his Jan. 6, 2021, crimes at the U.S. Capitol.

Paul E. Kovacik, 54, was charged in May 2022 with entering and remaining in a restricted building, disorderly or disruptive conduct in such a building, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building.

A report from the U.S. Marshal Service Tuesday said Kovacik was arrested June 19 in Indiana, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three months imprisonment followed by three years of probation.

Kovacik was originally ordered to appear to the Bureau of Prisons in Chicago on Aug. 22, 2023, but was allowed by a judge to report at a later date so he could complete his summer job at Six Flags.

The new appearance date was set for Nov. 1, 2023.

"Kovacik did not self-surrender to the Bureau of Prisons at the MCC – Chicago on November 1, 2023, as ordered. Instead, Kovacik fled to Dublin, Ireland, through Munich, Germany, on November 1, 2023," the criminal complaint said.

An arrest warrant was filed for Kovacik on Nov. 21, 2023.

According to the complaint, Kovacik claimed to be in Ireland seeking asylum and international protection with the Irish government. He withdrew his asylum claim and returned to the United States voluntarily because he felt "homesick."

Kovacik was arrested upon his arrival and transferred to a jail in Minneapolis. After his arrest, Kovacik told law enforcement he was a "political prisoner."

Kovacik is now serving his original sentence at a federal prison in Chicago with an expected release date of Sept. 8, 2024, but his new charge for fleeing imprisonment could lead to more jail time.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee man charged with fleeing to Ireland to avoid imprisonment for January 6 crimes