Pardoned Jan. 6 Capitol attack arrested in Texas on child sex crime charge

A Texas antheral pardoned by President Donald Trump for his relation successful the Jan. 6 onslaught connected the Capitol was arrested Thursday greeting connected an outstanding kid enactment crimes charge, authorities said.

Andrew Taake was arrested successful Leon County, Texas astir 11:30 a.m., the Harris County District Attorney’s Office said successful a quality release.

He was taken into custody pursuing a multi-agency operation, which concluded earlier this week that the 36-year-old Houston antheral had been staying astatine a residence successful Leon County.

“We would similar to convey the coordinated efforts of our office’s Fugitive Apprehension Section, Leon County Sheriff’s Office, and Texas Department of Public Safety for their diligence successful getting this suspected kid predator backmost into custody,” Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare said successful a connection pursuing the arrest.

Taake — who was wanted successful Harris County connected a 2016 charge of soliciting a insignificant online — was 1 of the approximately 1,500 MAGA supporters who were convicted of offenses related to the Jan. 6, 2021 onslaught connected the Capitol.

He was accused of attacking constabulary officers with carnivore spray and a metallic whip.

Taake pleaded blameworthy to 1 number of assaulting, resisting oregon impeding definite officers utilizing a unsafe limb successful precocious 2023. On June 5, 2024, helium was sentenced to six years and 2 months successful national prison.

Earlier this year, Taake was acceptable escaped aft a recently inaugurated President Trump issued a broad pardon for the Jan 6 insurrectionists.

His merchandise was condemned by Harris County authorities, who had “requested that national authorities clasp him, owed to his pending warrant,” the territory attorney’s bureau said successful a connection connected Jan. 27.

According to Teare, his bureau faxed national authorities a transcript of Taake’s outstanding warrant connected Jan. 15, but helium was released 5 days later.

“Re-arresting individuals, similar Taake, who were released with pending State warrants, will necessitate important resources,” the district’s bureau said successful a connection connected Jan. 27. “Know that we are already successful the process of tracking Taake down, arsenic helium indispensable reply for 2016 complaint of soliciting a insignificant online.”