Andrew Taake, who recently received a pardon for his role in the January 6 Capitol riot, is now facing charges from a 2016 incident involving online solicitation of a minor.
The New York Post reported that the 36-year-old was taken into custody due to previously sending explicit messages to an undercover officer posing as a teenager.
The recent events unfolded when the Harris County District Attorney’s fugitive apprehension team detained Taake on Wednesday morning. The arrest occurred at a residential property in Leon County, where he had been hiding. The charge against him dates back several years, rooted in incidents from May 2016.
At that time, Taake engaged in communication over the internet, targeting what he believed to be a 15-year-old girl. His correspondent, however, was an undercover police officer working on child protection cases. The messages Taake sent included sexually explicit content, leading to the issuance of a warrant for his arrest.
Despite the serious nature of these allegations, Taake remained at large until his recent apprehension. Before this, he had been incarcerated for assaulting a police officer during the tumultuous events of January 6, 2021, in Washington, D.C.
Taake's participation in the Capitol riot involved using bear spray against law enforcement and wielding a metal whip. During the riot, he managed to spend about 20 minutes inside the Capitol building. His actions during the riot were not only violent but also boastful, as he later discussed his deeds on a dating app.
This online bragging eventually led to his arrest by the FBI for his involvement in the riot. Before receiving a pardon from President Trump, Taake served time in prison for these offenses, which included the assault on a police officer.
Last month, Taake was among roughly 1,500 individuals pardoned by Trump for their roles in the January 6th disturbance. This pardon facilitated his release from federal custody in Colorado, despite an existing arrest warrant from 2016.
Following his release, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office learned of Taake's free status and acted swiftly to address the oversight. They had previously sent a certified warrant for his arrest to the Bureau of Prisons, which was overlooked because of the presidential pardon.
Sean Teare of the Harris County District Attorney’s office described Taake as a “suspected child predator”, a label that underscores the gravity of the charges he faces. His arrest not only pertains to past alleged misdemeanors but highlights ongoing concerns about his behavior toward minors.
Taake is now awaiting transfer to a Harris County jail where he will be held pending trial. The specifics of his court dates and potential legal representation remain undetermined at this stage.
The community and broader public have expressed a range of reactions to Taake's re-arrest, from outrage over his initial release to concern about the implications of his alleged actions on minor safety.
Legal experts point out that this case exemplifies challenges in managing pardons and existing warrants, showcasing potential gaps in the criminal justice system.
This case has reignited debate over the standards and implications of presidential pardons, especially those issued en masse for politically sensitive cases such as the January 6 riots.
Critics argue that such pardons might undermine public trust in the judicial process, particularly when serious unresolved charges like solicitation of a minor are involved.
As the legal proceedings unfold, Taake faces the possibility of significant penalties if convicted of the solicitation charges. These events serve as a stark reminder of the complexities and potential consequences of intertwining criminal acts with political unrest.