Walchak escape results in more trouble than it was worth

On June 25, Paul Anthony Walchak of Alpena will celebrate his 36th birthday in the Michigan Department of Corrections. Walchak has an unenviable history of breakings and enterings and home invasions. Monday, Walchak was in the court of Judge Joseph P. Swallow to be sentenced for three such cases when he asked to confer with his attorney from the office of Public Advocacy.

The story was retold by undersheriff Robert Paschke. ?Court officer Dave Tomas, while still having to remain in the ongoing court proceedings, stood in the doorway and kept a keen eye while still covering his court duties,? Paschke said. Walchak bolted from the conferencing room and down the staircase, which adjoins the room, with Tomas and probation officer Jude Bluemle in hot pursuit. According to Paschke, Walchak reached the parking lot and as luck would have it, the first vehicle Walchak reached was a truck with the keys in it. As Walchak attempted to start the vehicle, Tomas and Bluemle reached him first, disabling him with pepper spray before he could start the truck.

END OF INCIDENT, as Walchak was taken to back to the sheriff?s department so he could be cleaned up from the pepper spray. This time, under very close guard, and handcuffed, Walchak once again appeared in Circuit Court for sentencing on the three cases that included: one case with two counts of home invasion ? second degree; a second case with one count of breaking and entering with intent ? habitual offender ? fourth consecutive offense; and a third case with one count of home invasion ? second degree ? fourth consecutive offense.

Judge Swallow wasted no time sentencing Walchak to the Michigan Department of Corrections for a minimum of 14 years and a maximum of 30 years with no credit for any time served. By Tuesday morning, Walchak?s problems had only increased as he was arraigned in the 89th District Court under Judge Harold A. Johnson

Jr. on extended charges stemming from his escape attempt the day before. According to Prosecuting Attorney Donald McLennan, ?The escape charge will ultimately result in consecutive time on his sentence. Escape is a charge which carries a penalty up to four years, but because he is a habitual offender, it can be 0 to 15 years.?

AS WALCHAK was led away in handcuffs from the District Court by Deputy Joe Brewbaker and Undersheriff Paschke, he said, ?I?d give anything to know why I do the things I do,? as he was led down the staircase and through the opposite parking lot he had attempted to escape from the day before.

?I just don?t know why I do it,? he lamented as they re-entered the sheriff?s department door. Within a half hour?s time, Walchak was already on his way to the Michigan Department of Corrections, his new home for some time to come.