Polanski arrested in connection with rape charge

[Dudester]

Polanski arrested in connection with rape charge

In 1977 Polanski pleaded guilty to having sex with a 13-year-old girl

Oscar winner was en route to Zurich Film Festival, which was honoring him

Polanski won Oscar for best writing for "Rosemary's Baby," which he directed


Filmmaker Roman Polanski has been arrested in Switzerland on an arrest warrant issued 31 years ago in connection with a rape charge.


Roman Polanski attends a film premiere in Paris, France, in June 2009.

The Academy Award-winning director pleaded guilty in 1977 to having sex with a 13-year-old girl in the United States, but fled the country before he could be sentenced. Authorities in the United States issued a warrant for his arrest in 1978.

He was taken into custody on Saturday, Zurich police said.

Polanski has lived in France for decades to avoid being arrested if he enters the U.S. He declined to collect his Academy Award for Best Director in person when he won it for "The Pianist" in 2003.

He was en route to the Zurich Film Festival, which is holding a tribute to him, when he was arrested by Swiss authorities, the festival said.

Polanski was nominated for best director Oscars for "Tess" and "Chinatown," and for best writing for "Rosemary's Baby," which he also directed.

"Roman Polanski, who is one of the greatest film directors of all time, would have been honored for his life's work in Zurich today," the film festival said in a statement.

"However yesterday, on Saturday, he was taken into custody while attempting to enter Switzerland due to a request by U.S. authorities in connection with an arrest warrant from 1978."

Polanski was accused of plying a 13-year-old girl with champagne and a sliver of a quaalude tablet and performing various sex acts, including intercourse, with her during a photo shoot at actor Jack Nicholson's house.


Nicholson was not at home, but his girlfriend at the time, actress Anjelica Huston, was.

According to a probation report contained in the filing, Huston described the victim as "sullen."

"She appeared to be one of those kind of little chicks between -- could be any age up to 25. She did not look like a 13-year-old scared little thing," Huston said.

She added that Polanski did not strike her as the type of man who would force himself on a young girl.

"I don't think he's a bad man," she said in the report. "I think he's an unhappy man."

Polanski pleaded guilty to a single count of having unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor.

There have been repeated attempts to settle the case over the years, but the sticking point has always been Polanski's refusal to return to attend hearings.

Prosecutors have consistently argued that it would be a miscarriage of justice to allow a man to go free who "drugged and raped a 13-year-old child."

Polanski's lawyers tried earlier this year to have the charges thrown out, but a Los Angeles judge rejected the request.

In doing so, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Peter Espinoza left the door open to reconsider his ruling if Polanski shows up in court.

Espinoza also appeared to acknowledge problems with the way the 76-year-old director's case was handled years ago.

According to court documents, Polanski, his lawyer and the prosecutor thought they'd worked out a deal that would spare Polanski from prison and let the young victim avoid a public trial.

But the original judge in the case, who is now dead, first sent the director to maximum-security prison for 42 days while he underwent psychological testing. Then, on the eve of his sentencing, the judge told attorneys he was inclined to send Polanski back to prison for another 48 days.

Polanski fled the United States for France, where he was born.

In the February hearing, Espinoza mentioned a documentary film that depicts backroom deals between prosecutors and a media-obsessed judge who was worried his public image would suffer if he didn't send Polanski to prison.

"It's hard to contest some of the behavior in the documentary was misconduct," said Espinoza.

But he declined to dismiss the case entirely.

Legal experts said such a ruling would have been extremely rare.

Polanski's victim is among those calling for the case to be tossed out.

Larry Silver, the victim's lawyer, said he was disappointed in the ruling and that Espinoza "did not get to the merits and consider the clear proof of both judicial and prosecutorial corruption."

He argued in court that had "Mr. Polanski been treated fairly" his client would not still be suffering because of publicity almost 32 years after the crime.

Polanski was arrested two days after one of his wife's killers died.

The director's pregnant wife, actress Sharon Tate, and four others were butchered by members of the "Manson family" in August 1969.

By her own admission, Susan Atkins held the eight-months-pregnant Tate down as she pleaded for mercy, stabbing the 26-year-old actress 16 times.

Polanski was filming in Europe at the time.

Atkins, 61, died Thursday. She had been suffering from terminal brain cancer.

[Stonecutter]

His own fault really. Have no symapthy for the guy. Specially as he fled the country

[Subspace]

Man, prosecutors can sure be determined sometimes, eh?

Honestly, at this point seems to me a waste of resources focusing on this guy. The time and effort and money that will be spent on this case to get him extradited back and tried etc. could be put to much better use elsewhere. I ain't saying Roman ain't guilty, I'm merely saying this operation is essentially an unfortunate waste of resources.

[Dudester]

One has to take in the context of the time. In 1977, child sex was a hot thing among the rich & famous. Half a dozen child porn magazines were in international distribution, mainstream Lolita films were being shot by studios (i.e. Pretty Baby), porn companies would rent adjacent hotel rooms. In one room a legal hotty was having sex and in the adjacent room, a 10-11 year old was having sex with a boy and/or man. Finally, stage mothers were having their preteen daughters pose in mainstream magazines. 12 year old Eva Ionesco posed borderline X rated in French Playboy and 12 year old Brooke Shields posed nude in a photographer's magazine.

Roman thought he was going to use the old casting couch on the girl, but it went all wrong. Then, like some Hollywood folk, he was surprised when he was going to actually be held accountable for his actions-so he fled.

Normally, this case would've disappeared in the statute of limitations, but several years ago, California, like some states, did away with statute of limitations on child sex crimes. His arrest will most likely turn into an exercise of futilism and he'll return to France, scott free, after some legal arguments take place.

[Luckymann]

Maybe, if we get lucky, the stress of being forced to return to stand trail on child rape charges will put Polanski in the ground. I am personally wishing for hin to have a stroke. Heart attacks are too quick. Let the bastard suffer a few months befor his final punishment in hell.

Writing about such a fantasy and actually doing something like this are two intirely different things. Let Polanski and Kennedy be examples to all those who flaunt the law just because they can.

[Harry Chimp]

What goes around, comes around. One doesn't fuck minors, unless one is a minor oneself.

[gobbledoc]

maybe its a mechainc thing or related the speedway over here but persons like that usually get grabbed by several lad's dressed in black in an unmarked van taken somewere quiet an are introduced to a pair of side cutters.
cut their nuts out and dump the body out the front of the emergancy room so they live to nightmares for the rest of their miserable lives.

[tresmojito]

there's 2 kinds of people with opinions on this: liberal hollywood types, and anyone who has a 13 year old daughter, granddaughter, niece, younger cousin

[testicle3455]

Jodie Foster and Brooke Shields were from the same time and appeared in films. The parents of kids are desperate to make them stars, it is the easiest way make money. The kids are pushed into the entertainment industry. Knocked up women who do not never the man who left them in that way, divorced women who cannot survive on the money they earn. So expect their kids to become stars and would make deals with the shadiest of film makers.

[Brigit Astar]

Personally, I'd like to see Polanski locked in a cell with Woody Allen. They deserve each other

[comsmith22]

Only if they can pump the air out of the cell and let the slime balls take dirt nap...

[espana]

Ages of consent vary from country to country in some he has commited no crime if the act was consensual . Having seen a 1977 screen test of the young lady concerned she was easily able to pass as much older than her years.
The seperate sound track had what appears to be her mother telling her to show more and remember sexy sells and if she has to give it up its nothing others havent done to get started .
This evidence seized by the prosecution of the time has been lost or missfiled [ surprise surprise ]

The only problem I have is with the drink and drugs even though of her own volition was it enough to make the act non consensual

[darkenergy134]

This guy's been through too much. It's been 30 years, and the girl doesn't feel that bad about it. Let it go, I say.