He has been convicted and sentenced. He fled to avoid punishment.
He actually was never sentenced. He entered into a plea agreement with prosecution, and pled guilty in open court. The judge ordered a pre-sentencing psych eval, which Polansky completed. BUT, before he could actually be sentenced, Polansky fled because he feared the judge wouldn't honor the plea arrangement, which of course is the judge's prerogative.
Before a defendant signs the plea agreement, and before he actually pleads guilty in open court, he is specifically told that the judge is not bound by the agreement as the agreement is between prosecution and defendant, and not defendant and court.
Because Polanksy fled, prosecution could even move to have the original plea agreement vacated, and then move to prosecute on the original charges as the original indictment was never dismissed - they usually never are until after sentencing, for just this reason.
I support the LA DA 100%. I am amazed someone in the LA DA has the guts and follow through to go after this rat. Maybe there is hope for CA yet.