Charges of both "escape" and "absconding" would likely be in reference to the following statute:
Quote Quoting CRS 17-27-106. Escape from custody from a community corrections program.
(1)

(a) If an offender fails to remain within the extended limits of such offender's confinement or placement or fails to return within the time prescribed to any community corrections program to which such offender was assigned or transferred or if any offender who participates in a program established under the provisions of this article leaves such offender's place of employment or, having been ordered by the executive director of the department of corrections or the chief probation officer of the judicial district to return to the community corrections program, neglects or fails to do so, such offender shall be deemed to have escaped from custody and shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished as provided in section 18-8-208, C.R.S., and all reductions in sentence authorized by part 2 of article 22.5 of this title shall be forfeited.

(b)

(I) In addition to the forfeiture of all reductions in sentence authorized by part 2 of article 22.5 of this title, any person convicted of escape from custody from a community correction program in violation of paragraph (a) of this subsection (1) shall also forfeit all reductions in sentence authorized by section 18-1.3-301 (1) (i), C.R.S.

(II) Repealed.
(2) The division of criminal justice is hereby authorized to provide notice to appropriate law enforcement agencies and the sentencing court, if applicable, that there is probable cause to believe that an offender has escaped from custody.
That is, the terms are synonymous.

He needs to consult a lawyer with information about his criminal history, the underlying offense, prior parole issues and violations, why he chose to violate his parole, and why his parole officer is seeking a pretty severe penalty; his lawyer can then advise him. The charges you describe as the basis for his parole would normally be jail offenses, and would not normally support a four year term of incarceration - I suspect he was on parole for a much more serious crime when he committed those offenses.