Authorities are searching for a registered sex offender who fled the Leighton Criminal Courthouse earlier this month as a jury deliberated on charges related to a 2016 home invasion and sexual assault.
Joseph Kopacz, 54, was convicted Nov. 8 on state charges of committing the home-invasion attack in October 2016 in Cook County, Illinois, the FBI said in a statement.
"Kopacz attempted to sexually assault a victim who had been asleep in the home during the home invasion," said Laura Eimiller, a spokeswoman for the bureau. He fled while on bond during his trial.
A reward of up to $5,000 is being offered for information that leads to his conviction. Kopacz is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the FBI at 312-421-6700.
