Convicted St. Charles driving instructor sentenced to 30 years in prison

A St. Charles driving instructor who was convicted in absentia of 16 felony sexual assault charges when he skipped his own trial in April 2025 was sentenced Wednesday, Oct. 28 to 30 years in prison.Paul Bocska, 60, was extradited from his native Hungary after 17 months and has been in custody at the county jail since Sept. 11.Bocska did not attend his April 17, 2025 trial and a jury convicted him in absentia on April 22, records show.Judges routinely warn defendants that if they don’t show up for trial, they can be tried “in absentia,” which is Latin for “in the absence of.”Circuit Judge David Kliment denied Bocska attorney Liam Dixon’s request for a new trial. In seeking relief for his client, Dixon said Bocska suffers from diabetes and heart arrhythmia.But Kliment said he considered the evidence at trial, reviewed his notes and the financial impact of incarcerating a person.“Department of Corrections, fiscal year 2025, it cost $52,843 per year to house an individual,” Kliment said. “