Worcester Man Caught With Molotov Cocktails Pleads Guilty: Feds

WORCESTER, MA — A Worcester man has pleaded guilty to several federal charges after he was arrested at a June 2020 protest while carrying suspected Molotov cocktails.

Vincent Eovacious, 19, was one of 19 people arrested during the June 1 incident in Worcester's Main South neighborhood, but the only one to face federal charges. Worcester District Attorney Joseph Early Jr. has since dropped charges against 17 other people arrested that night.

The June 1 protest followed a large, peaceful gathering in downtown Worcester focusing on the police killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. After the larger event ended, a small group of protesters marched down Main Street and were confronted by riot police.

Related: Year After Worcester Protest, Only One Man Faces Criminal Charges

According to police, Eovacious was seen standing on the roof of a building at 848 Main St. A Worcester officer convinced him to come down, and he was arrested without incident. Police said they found him with a lighter and three glass jars containing flammable liquid. One officer said he saw Eovacious pull out one of the jars while standing on the roof. He was later charged by federal prosecutors with civil disorder and unlawful possession of a firearm.

Since his arrest, Eovacious, a recent high school graduate, had tried to enter a program called RISE (Repair, Invest, Succeed, Emerge), which may have helped him avoid jail time. However, a federal judge rejected that request in June.

According to federal prosecutors, Eovacious could face a maximum sentence of up to 15 years in prison on both charges. He's set to be sentenced on Jan. 6.