SharonA commented, in part:

the judge planned to renege on the plea agreement doesn't justify hiding from the law and failing etc.

A judge is not bound by a plea agreement. That's worked out by the prosecutor with the defendant, and doesn't bind the judge. So the judge couldn't "renege" on the plea agreement; (s)he can refuse to accept it. And this would surely (assuming competent counsel, which I have no doubt Polanski had obtained) have been explained to Polanski beforehand, and he entered the agreement even so.

But I would agree with your essential thought, that the fear that the plea agreement might be rejected doesn't excuse his absconding.

Dave Oesterreich