After several tries, U.S. officials finally nab Roman Polanski in 1970s rape case [Updated]

Three decades after he fled the United States following his arrest for unlawful sex with a 13-year-old girl, Roman Polanski was taken into custody in Zurich this morning and faces extradition to Los Angeles.

Polanski, the famed film director whose career continued to flourish even after fleeing for Europe, was arrested as he arrived in the Swiss city to accept an award at the Zurich Film Festival.

The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office learned last week that Polanski had plans to travel to Zurich this weekend, said Sandi Gibbons, spokeswoman for the district attorney’s office.

Prosecutors sent a provisional arrest warrant to the U.S. Justice Department, which presented it to  Swiss authorities. On at least two previous occasions, the district attorney’s office has received reports that Polanski had travel arrangements to countries with extradition treaties with the U.S. and prepared paperwork for his arrest, Gibbons said.

“But in the end, he apparently found out about it and didn’t go,” she said.

A source familiar with the investigation told The Times that the U.S. Marshals Service had come close to arresting Polanski half a dozen times or so over the past few decades -- though several of those opportunities presented themselves in the last two years.

"For one reason or another, it just didn't work out," said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the case was ongoing. "There are so many variables."

The source said Polanski always was very careful about when and where he traveled. But as new questions arose in recent years about the fairness of his case, the source said Polanski appeared to become more at ease about travel.

Thomas Hession, head of the Marshals Service's  Los Angeles office, would not comment on specifics of the case but said authorities moved quickly on each lead. "Any time information was developed, the L.A. County district attorney's office and the Marshals Service immediately acted on it."

Three decades after he fled the United States following his arrest for unlawful sex with a 13-year-old girl, Roman Polanski was taken into custody in Zurich this morning and faces extradition to Los Angeles.

Polanski, the famed film director whose career continued to flourish even after fleeing for Europe, was arrested as he arrived in the Swiss city to accept an award at the Zurich Film Festival.

The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office learned last week that Polanski had plans to travel to Zurich this weekend, said Sandi Gibbons, spokeswoman for the district attorney’s office.

Prosecutors sent a provisional arrest warrant to the U.S. Justice Department, which presented it to  Swiss authorities. On at least two previous occasions, the district attorney’s office has received reports that Polanski had travel arrangements to countries with extradition treaties with the U.S. and prepared paperwork for his arrest, Gibbons said.

“But in the end, he apparently found out about it and didn’t go,” she said.

A source familiar with the investigation told The Times that the U.S. Marshals Service had come close to arresting Polanski half a dozen times or so over the past few decades -- though several of those opportunities presented themselves in the last two years.

"For one reason or another, it just didn't work out," said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the case was ongoing. "There are so many variables."

The source said Polanski always was very careful about when and where he traveled. But as new questions arose in recent years about the fairness of his case, the source said Polanski appeared to become more at ease about travel.

Thomas Hession, head of the Marshals Service's  Los Angeles office, would not comment on specifics of the case but said authorities moved quickly on each lead. "Any time information was developed, the L.A. County district attorney's office and the Marshals Service immediately acted on it."

Asked if prosecutors would ask that Polanski be sentenced to time behind bars if he were returned to the U.S., Gibbons said, “We’ve always maintained this is a matter between Polanski and the court. … We initially recommended prison time for him, but I can’t see into the future.”

An attorney for Polanski, Chad Hummel, declined to comment. “Right now, we’re not in a position to say anything,” he said.

[Updated 1:00 p.m. : In a statement, three Los Angeles attorneys representing Polanski  indicated the arrest came as a surprise. The lawyers have been representing him in an ongoing attempt to have the case against Polanski dismissed on the grounds of prosecutorial and judicial misconduct.

"We were unaware of any extradition being sought and separate counsel will be retained for those proceedings,” wrote attorneys Douglas Dalton, Chad Hummel and Bart Dalton. Their request to have the 1977 charges against Polanski dismissed is currently pending before the state Court of Appeal.

The organizers of the Zurich Film Festival expressed “great consternation and shock” over Polanski’s arrest and said the program honoring his films would go on in his absence.

 A spokeswoman for the event, Nikki Parker, wrote in an e-mail that neither Polanski nor the organizers considered his legal status in the U.S. an issue in attending the festival because he often traveled to Switzerland and even owned a home there.

“There was no concern whatsoever,” Parker wrote.]

Polanski, now 76 and a married father of two, asked the court to throw out the entire case based on new allegations of prosecutorial and judicial misconduct detailed in an HBO documentary last year. The L.A. district attorney’s office argued that he could not make such a request while a fugitive, and an L.A. judge earlier this year agreed. A 1997 attempt at settling the case also failed.

Polanski was arrested 31 years ago at a Beverly Hills hotel after a 13-year-old girl accused him of sexually assaulting her during a photo shoot at actor Jack Nicholson's house.

A 1978 arrest warrant, issued after he failed to appear at his sentencing on the statutory-rape conviction, is still in effect, and he would be taken into custody upon arrival on U.S. soil. The director of "Chinatown" and "Rosemary's Baby" has not returned to the U.S. since then but continues to work as a director, winning an Oscar for "The Pianist."

Polanski’s stay in Switzerland could be brief if he opts to return to Los Angeles.

“If he agrees with an extradition, he could be sent to the U.S. in the next days,” said Guido Ballmer, a spokesman for the Swiss Federal Department of Justice and Police.

But if Polanski declines to come back without a fight -- perhaps a more likely scenario given his three decades as a fugitive -- the court process could be quite lengthy, Ballmer told The Times.

The appeals process has several layers and could last months, if not longer. 

-- Harriet Ryan and Andrew Blankstein

Photo credit: A Polanski fan waits for Zurich's Filmfestival. Polanski would have been awarded tonight with the "Golden Eye Award" for his lifework. Ennio Leanza / EPA

More coverage:

Roman Polanski photo gallery

Roman Polanski's attorneys stunned by arrest

Samantha Geimer on being the victim of Polanski and the media

Polanski's extradition to L.A. could take months

Comments

[Carol]

42 days in an evaluation facility for child rape is NOT punishment, I don't care what the private settlement was with the girl's family.

I am very pleased the victim has moved past this, but Polanski needs to stand before a judge and have his case argued and judged fully, not skip town.

[jad]

Wow. So now we're safe to walk the streets again. Thank god we live in a country where the criminal justice system works so tirelessly in our interests.

[giley1]

The long arm of the law finally nabbed this fugitive from justice. Good work by the US Marshals.

[John Bones]

Archcriminal Polanski Nabbed! This is a happy day for fans of law and order everywhere! Wily supercriminal Roman Polanski finally in the arms of justice -- hopefully they will send him to Arkham Asylum to be rehabilitated! His alter ego...The Moviemaker!

[Jake T]

Left unreported is the fact that both the French and the Polish governments have today made *official* requests to the US government to free Polanski. This arrest just "does not compute" for much of Europe (notwithstanding the obvious Swiss pandering to get back into the US's good graces after the bank secrecy brouhaha).

In matters of criminal justice, America is the Saudi Arabia of the western world.

[Maria Toledano]

Whew--that dangerous Polanski is off the streets and now we don't have to lock up our daughters any longer. What about those ambitious stage mothers who allow 13-year-old girls to be alone with strange men in the hopes of furthering their careers? No negligence there, of course!

[Kim]

I think that this situation is far less black and white than most people are aware of and would like to believe.

The attitudes of most Americans are appalling. It seems to me that people are less interested in seeing "justice getting done" (as so many claim to be) and more interested in the following and inevitable media sensation that is about to blow up. And there is nothing that the media, especially the American media, loves more than a good lynching. It is awfully bloodthirsty.

The only opinion that matters is that of Samantha Geimer's. I personally believe that Polanski should have done his time when it was his time, but he fled for a reason that should have never come up in the first place. What follows is that the victim appears to have moved on in the meantime and Polanski has behaved himself and in a way has already paid the price. I do agree with Jake T. I'm surprised that the Americans have not yet started stoning people in the streets.

[Ray]

No matter how much time has passed, the fact remains he admitted guilty of drugging, raping & sodomizing a 13-year old girl. Whether the victim wants him behind bars is irrelevant.

[David]

This is simply a case of the Los Angeles County District Attorney trying to make a name for himself. It is not in the interest of "justice." The United States has by far more prisoners per capita than any other Western nation; throwing people in prison has become a "pastime" for our judicial system.

The United States has many, many problems that are far more important than chasing down a famous film director. It is a waste of money and time, especially considering that the case will probably be either dismissed or thrown out of court on appeal.

[Amy]

The U.S. Marshals were not "chasing down a famous film director" but a convicted child rapist.

[BarnacleBob]

This is a well-orchestrated, publicity stunt for Polanski and The Ghost (2010), nothing more. With that in mind, kudos to lawyer/agents at ICM.

[william rubenstein]

France and America have different views of morality and justice. Both have an honorable tradition and both can be defended with honor. Those Americans who shout out their Puritan idea that the law is about vengeance only reveal the narrowness of their experience and appear naive. Mitterand's comment about the "scary" America refers to people like that: the people who naively launch out on crusades believing that they represent absolute "justice" while, in fact, doing more harm than good. Read Melville (Billy Budd, Benito Cereno, Moby Dick) and Hawthorne (The Scarlett Letter) to understand why a simple minded application of the law is in itself as evil as the crimes the moralist would condemn. At our worst, we are a country of witch hunters; MItterand is exactly right.

In all likelihood, Polanski did have sex with a thirteen year old girl. What else do we know about him: he was a child survivor of the holocaust, a trauma which deprived him of his youth, which left him alone in a nightmare world. Somehow he fought to survive, made art of astonishing beauty, came to America and married one of the most beautiful and apparently wonderful young ladies of his time. And she was murdered in one of the most nightmarish crimes in all history. Most people with that life history would probably have gone mad, and perhaps in Polanski there is a touch of madness.

Does this justify his crime? No. But we should ask ourselves: who does it serve to pursue him across the decades? To whom does he pose a threat? What beautiful works of art might he still create? Yes! His artistry does matter here. How many of the greatest artists have been touched by madness? That's right; nearly all of them. Leonardo da Vinci was charged with sex crimes too! (Though not in the American Disneyfied official story). . I suppose the moralists in the room think Italy should have sent him to hang? Too bad that he hadn't yet created any of his famous art. The world really didn't need any of that. After all, it exists to protect the shallow, mean spirited moralists whose crimes are carefully suppressed beneath the laws they subvert in subtler ways. Switzerland-- land of legal criminalty-- on the vastest scale, arresting Polanski? Does nobody see the horror in that? The Swiss, by the way were the one who invented the tagging of Jewish passports-- they insisted the Nazis do this to help keep Jewish refugees out of their pristine country of secret bank accounts and tycoon narco/arms traffickers.

Mitterand reveals a superior understanding of morality and justice.

[Teenage Rape Survivor]

I am proud to be an American. Proud to live in a City with a D.A. who protects the innocent. No one has the right to take away another person's innocence! No one. God Bless America and thank you Switzerland!

[jah]

This loser has been thumbing his nose at the charges for over 31 years and has passed up or had opportunities to come settle it through this time also.
He's a low life creep who slimed his way out and has been living free for many years.
He's a sleaze ball and should spend some time in jail for the drugging and raping he did. He fled justice, now he is caught and must deal with it. end of story
Maybe he shouldn't have fled in the first place.

[JJ]

Javert would approve.

[JJ]

Polanski in custody, and war criminals Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld roam free. Hope they travel to Europe real soon.

[David]

JOHN BONES IS SO FUNNY! BEST COMMENT

[Bob 'White Noise' MacDonald]

I am so glad our taxes are used so efficiently by these global cops we can call out own! They truly serve the people and keep us safe. They are fair, honest, diligent and have a clearer set of priorities than anyone I know. God Bless America!

[M. Brunner]

As a Swiss Citizen I m proud that my country could help the US-authorities in the "case Polanski". On the other hand I regret that we didn't extradate MARC RICH too, before it was too late and Bill Clinton pardoned him in 2001...

Greetings from Switzerland

[Urs Beck]

There is one sad thing about this case. The great nation and democracy of France was not able to bring Mr Polanski to justice within more then 30 years, a man who did confess the accusation of having sex with an minor. And why does Switzerland has to answer questions about the action it took today? Is it still a trivial offence for some people not to worry about too much?

[Ken Chuang]

Fact: Polanski plead guilty and then skipped his sentencing hearing.

Fact: He raped a thirteen year old girl. And, by her account, after a preparatory round of quaaludes and alcohol.

Anyone who thinks that this is somehow mitigated by the forgiveness of his victim or his purported artistic achievements is simply idiotic. Nothing more needs to be said about this topic.

[Donna]

California is bankrupt. California has been letting dangerous criminals out on the street already because they can't afford to keep them in jail. This is a ridiculous waste of time and money, and if Mr. Polansky were not famous believe me the DA would not care and would never have pursued this case. The judge renegged on the original sentencing deal causing Polansky to flee in the first place, the judge is now dead and cannot testify as to the improprieties that occurred in the original case, and the victim herself does not want punishment. The truth is that there is zero chance that Polansky is a threat to California's children. Schwarzenegger should just pardon Polansky so everyone can move on and deal with California's enormous problems.

[abcsgs]

We may not agree with the plea bargain but that was our justice system at work. Take it up with them. If the public wishes to crucify someone it should be the original judge. If not for him, the case would have gone much differently and he wouldn't have fled in the first place.

[ania]

ameryka to buraki!!!!!!

[ColoradoRob]

It's about time they grabbed this guy and shame on Hollywood and his Movie Business friends for voicing such outrage. No matter what the circumstances were he Drugged and raped a Child. I'm sure she was paid handsomely to forgive and forget but he still Drugged and Raped a Child. Time to pay the piper!

[Melaine Samson]

What's the point?

[Michael Dillin]

For the LA Times to use the phraseology of "finally nab" Roman Polanski wreaks of prejudice. The woman -- now 45 years old -- does not want him prosecuted. Even prosecutors concede of the failure of ethics of the original trial judge. Polanski may be "guilty" or he may not be. But the LA Times is exhibiting "gotcha" justice. Oh, and if the "truth" is paramount, what kind of courage will you show in being unrelenting in confronting actor Jack Nicholson -- in whose home Polanski and the woman were staying? Then again, it may be that the LA Times can name their choice of bad guy, and thru it's silence covers up its own sacred cows.

[peter]

He RAPED a 13 year old !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Parker]

This is a very simple and straightforward case. He pled guilty and was convicted of raping a 13 year old girl. He then became a fugitive before he could be sentenced by the court. No one yet on this board has adequately explained why these basic facts should be overlooked and/or why Polanski should be above the law in this case.

If Polanski was a plumber instead of a film director would European public be as outraged at his arrest? Do Europeans object to the Los Angeles District Attorney going after fugitive felons in general or do they just object to going after fugitive felons who also happen to be famous celebrities?

Perhaps, France, Switzerland, Poland and other European countries have cultures and a histories that accepts that certain classes of people are above the law. And maybe Americans are more egalitarian and think that the law should apply to everyone?

[syscom3]

And thousands of violent street gangsters are not being pursued by our justice dept ..... but they got their man after 32 years for a crime that will be impossible to prosecute!

LOL ....

[John]

For all of the posters who are sarcastically "celebrating" the capture of this "dangerous" criminal, consider this: there is ample evidence that sex offenders, pedophiles in particular, are highly resistant to treatment and often commit multiple sex crimes over the course of their lives. It is not implausible to think that Mr. Polankski continued to commit child rape after 1978 (in fact, he is known to have had sex with then-15 year old Nastassja Kinski after his escape, though that was legal in France at the time). Those could have all been prevented had he received a REAL sentence in 1978, and not used his position of influence and power to secure a extremely favorable jail term, and subsequently flee the country when that agreement evaporated.
The bottom line is that he HAS NOT paid for his crime; he has lived a life of privilege and ease for 31 years after commiting an atrocity of a crime. 42 days in jail for drugging and raping a 13 year old is patently unjust-- to the victim, to future victims, and to society. (And to those who argue that since the victim has moved on, so should we: good for her, but that's not how serious felonies work. What if she were dead, rather than forgiving? Would that still obviate the need for punishment?)

[RichnAge]

Pedophilia is a crime that cannot be dismissed by virtue of the perpetrator's fame or perceived talent. Would you be okay with a famous person raping YOUR 13 year-old daughter?

[DB Boy]

This has something to do with the death of Susan Atkins. If you don't think so you've got your heads in the sand! Sharon Tate is not even mentioned in this story. Think about it.

[captain grumpy]

He even looks like a paedaphile !!!Well done the justice system,just dont fail now.

[Ziggle]

It is fine that the victim doesn't want him jailed, but we need to remember that Polanski paid off the victim. As a society, if we don't stand up against pedophiles drugging and anally, orally, and vaginally raping thirteen-year-old girls, we're not much of a society at all. The fact that the French seem to think that raping girls is ok as long as the rapist is a famous artist shows just how great the divide is.

Polanski fled the country instead of facing his sentence. However long the extradition takes it is at least a few more days in prison for a man who deserved to spend many, many years in prison for a crime like this.

There's also the reality that pedophiles continue to abuse, and you can only wonder how many other girls were raped by this nutjob who apparently gets his kicks from sex with children.

[Sha]

Hollywood libs love slime balls like child molesters' Polanski, woody Allen, and Michael Jackson, and murderers like O.J. Simpson, DUI killers like Ted Kennedy. Westly Snipes got a teensy slap on the wrist for ripping off the US by 10 million dollars. (Recently a conservative christian didnt pay $400,000 in taxes-he didnt keep it like snipes, instead gave it to his employees to take care of it--and he is in prison serving a 10 year sentence!)

To liberals it is OK to hurt others if you are liberal, famous, rich, and talented.

No matter how much time has passed, the fact remains Polanski admitted to being guilty of drugging, raping & sodomizing a 13-year old girl. Whether the victim wants him behind bars is irrelevant.

[Casey]

"

This is simply a case of the Los Angeles County District Attorney trying to make a name for himself. It is not in the interest of "justice." The United States has by far more prisoners per capita than any other Western nation; throwing people in prison has become a "pastime" for our judicial system.

The United States has many, many problems that are far more important than chasing down a famous film director. It is a waste of money and time, especially considering that the case will probably be either dismissed or thrown out of court on appeal.

Posted by: David | September 27, 2009 at 01:32 PM"

We are also the safest... coincidence?

[MICHAEL Cohen]

He has to be punished because the public is getting fed up with the rich getting away with murder and other crimes. We live in a country where the legal system is for the rich and we see in case after case where these rich bastards can get the best lawyers money cn buy and walk in the end.
If this bum and child abuser walks in this case it will just reinforce the public's perception that money talks, BS walks and justice does not exist.

[gilly]

he was arrested for having sex with a girl who is too young to participate on this message board...

have fun in prison pervert...

[Jonas Kniger]

I hop[e the pedophile loving morons posting on this have their daughters drugged, raped, and sodomized by a person of means who can flee the country and hide out for 30+ years! Then post your inane comments - money is no substitiute for justice and punishment is the duty of the state that represents the people. Why not let manson go too - he isn't a threat anymore!

[captain grumpy]

Firstly to David.."throwing people in prison has become a pastime for our judicial system" David,in case you havent noticed,that is their job.!!!
Secondly...Note the T Shirt in the picture! WHO apart from the ego inflated would wear a T Shirt with their own picture and the words WE LOVE YOU on the front. I think the T Shirt pretty well shows the arrogance of the man. ( man in little letters ).
Thirdly.. Im sick of the Hollywood crowd thinking they are above the commoners!!!!!Stick him in prison,not for the rape which has already been decided but for not showing up in court like normal folk have to.

[Andy]

Ray's comment is right on the mark.

[Mary]

Sharon Tate's family fought for victim's right after the death of their daughter which they should be commended. They worked hard to ensure the Mason family members were held accountable for the crimes they committed. However, what about a child's rights and the fact Mr. Polanski has never accounted for this victim's crime. The Tate family appears to support the HBO special Roman Polanski Wanted and Desire which leans towards letting Polanski move on without any judicial consequences.

[Bryan]

how ironic if you are under 13 you cant post a comment on this site BUT youcan be raped by Roman!

[sailbyme]

No statute of limitations on this?

[Jason]

I am disgusted by those who seem to be arguing that his crime was not worthy of punishment or that it was the fault of the victim or her parents or that just because the victim has worked through many of her issues, that rape of a child should not be punishable, no matter how much time has passed. Even if this man has been a model citizen, which is possible, but not likely, and 30 years have passed since the conviction, he still needs to serve his time in prison. The fact that he had the means to leave the country and evade extradition for this long really makes me want to see him serve his time in prison, just like any other convict with fewer resources would have had to. Those who say we in America are being extreme or radical in upholding the law are moral relativists who seem perfectly willing to give this criminal a pass, just because he is a film maker and not a brick layer, which really shows the exceptional character of America over that of the rest of the world.

[meesterbig]

Does this mean Jack Nicholson is an accessory?

[CommonSense]

Jake T,

"In matters of criminal justice, America is the Saudi Arabia of the western world."

And the pursuit and subsequent arrest of this child molester is evidence of that? You have a very warped understanding of "criminal justice."

[Ed Ingle]

The rich and well connected deserve to have their day in court as well as the rest of us. Congrats to Law Enforcement!

[Swampy]

If you are a 31 year old man and have sex with a 13 year old - it's ALWAYS a crime!!! A 13 year old cannot consent to a sexual relationship with an adult. He was convicted of breaking our laws and ran from punishment like a coward and has hidden for decades like the rat he is. I hope he enjoys the treatment that convicted child molestors get in prison. Where have Europe's standards gone?

[Steve]

If this guy was on Dateline: To Catch a Predator with Chris Hansen making him look like a freaking deviant pervert, everyone would be happy to see him go to jail. But because he's a famous director and it happened 30+ years ago it's ok now? He is getting what he deserves.

[Bob]

I'm surprised that Poland of all places would protest Polanski's arrest. After all, Poland recently passed a law making it mandatory to castrate all convicted child molesters and the prime minister himself was quoted as stating that in his eyes, child molesters are less than human and therefore, human rights do not apply to them.

To all those who dismiss the arrest as insignificant: Do you really want to live in a society where a man who rapes a 13 year old girl can essentially get away with it provided that he has the money and fame to escape any attempt to bring him to justice?

[Vicki Murphy]

I think it is sick that Polanski is being defended because he made some great movies. Most child molesters have been honored as "Citizens of the Year" in their communities, only because the community didn't know their dark, shameful side.
A child is only a child for a little while and Polanski and his ilk are only taking the innocence of those children for their own 'satisfaction'.
I'm glad he's finally caught and that he will be required to end his days in jail....he's been free to do in France, whatever he did to the 13 year old victim in America, for all of these years... Bummer, big time. He is a child abuser, plain and simple.
Vicki Murphy

[Shinea]

Since this guy is world famous and is beloved the the french he should be absolved of any criminal sexual behavior involving minors. Any 43 year old man should be able to have sex with any 13 year old as long as they are a politician or an "artist". Of course they should be supported in their deviance by all the artistic people of the world, particularly the French and Hollywood where 13 is already 6 years past the age of consent.

[Jsmith]

Were he not a big shot Hollywood celebrity, no one would ask twice about tracking down a child molester this much later. Perhaps if he had been nabbed in a dingy overcoat he would be more obvious as the perverted criminal he is. I look forward to his conviction.

[jggrimm]

In a culture saturated with a Hollywood film industry preoccupied with attractive girls, it is not surprising that one of its more gifted directors would embrace the opportunity to have sex with an attractive little girl.

Unfortunately for Roman, our laws do not allow 13 year old girls to provide consent as a defense to having sexual intercourse with middle aged men, even if they are gifted artists.

Then, to make matter more complex, when one is indicted in this state for a felony, or convicted, then flees from their day in court or years in jail, the clock does not begin to run in favor of the person fleeing. If that were the case, than anyone who could post bail would just move to a country sympathetic to felons with cash, and wait for the statute of limitations to set aside their conviction.

The result? Rape, rob, kill. Post bail. Leave. Wait. Return.

So, Mr. Polanski's attorneys are surprised. I'm sure they are shocked, and paid well to be so.

Mr. Polanski, under the laws of the state of California, raped a 13 year old girl. He will now be required to answer for his crime.

[Tom]

And so here we go... Another all-encompassing media circus about to set in, as Americans once again steer their attention away from the stuff that truly matters.

Talking heads, cable news, pundits, blog posts, comments, chatter, noise noise noise. No one will turn away; all of you will have an opinion; all of you will care. You'll actually CARE about this.

And you'll care because you can afford it. What an era of ugly luxury we live in. So much room for so much excess and ick. There is no recession. Few are truly struggling. I mean this: There is no crisis. The Polanski mania that's set to unfold will confirm, once again, that we clearly live in an age of opulence.

[Marty]

I'm glad they got him. You can scoff at American justice, but you can't get away from the accusation that he raped a 13-year-old girl. I fail to see how living free in Europe, continuing his career, was in any way a punishment. He deserves jail time just for fleeing. Choosing not to continue pursuing him would send the message that you can commit crimes and flee without any fear of paying the consequences.

[Brenda]

Why is is that the public always want these types of situations to be based on public opinion. It shouldn't matter if half the world thinks this is unfair or that too much time has gone by. The truth of the matter is that we are a country with laws and they should be for all people. Regardless if you are young or old, rich or poor, famous or unknown and yes, even if the person has successfully eluded the law for years, they still needs to face the consequences of their actions. I get tired of hearing how our justice system is unfair because it supposedly targets people by race or their place in society. Finally, someone is being prosecuted and money and fame is not stopping the law from justly pursuing them. I say this is just what we need more of. All people should have to answer for their crimes. The victim may have moved on and forgiven him but our society needs to have all criminals answer for their deeds so that others will think twice before doing the same.

[Elizabeth]

Any media sensation, to address another poster's comments, will be caused by those trying to defend this cowardly fugitive child rapist, not because of the American media's supposed bloodthirsty nature. And we all know the British tabloids aren't bloodthirsty at all. The knee-jerk anti-americanism that I've seen in many posts is quite tired. The fact that this arrest does not compute with much of Europe, as another poster wrote, just indicates the pathetic state of affairs in the continent.

Letting child rape go unpunished sound more like Saudia Arabia to me. Only uncivilized countries, Poland or France come to mind, would let that go. After all, he's such a good director!

I'm so glad that I, nor the American government, aren't "sophisticated" enough to shrug off child rape. and this man has finally been caught, and will face the justice that he so cowardly fled so many years ago.

[T D]

I am so happy this child molester is going to jail. Hopefully he will die there.

[Adam Major]

I wonder if all of you Polanski apologists are equally indifferent to the prosecution of Phillip and Nancy Garrido for the kidnapping and rape of Jaycee Dugard. After all, that was 18 years ago so who cares, right? You're idiots.

[John Mendez]

I am also very pleased the victim has moved past this, and alsoagree Polanski needs to stand before a judge and have his case argued and judged fully, not skip town like the coward did in '78. Good work by the US Marshals. Those who are posting in detestable defense of Polanski think that raping a 13-year old is okay! I pray for those posters and for Polanski that your hearts become fertile and not resist the love of Jesus Christ. No sin is small in the eyes of God and Polanski has sinned: he willingly drugged, raped & sodomized a 13-year old girl.

[Tom]

I would love to have sex with a 13 year old girl. But the only thing stopping me is the fact that it is against the law and I don't want to go to jail. Uh, wait a minute. I guess I should have said, "I would love to drug and rape a 13 year old girl...." But, of course, I am being facetious here. But there are plenty of people who do think it is okay to have sex with children, drugged or un-drugged, and the only thing standing in their way is the Law. In order for the Law to be effective there has to be consequences. What if (name your favorite white collar criminal here) just paid a fine and reimbursed his / her victims and that was it? Would it then be okay? Do only those with deep pockets get to escape justice and not do their time for doing their crime? Or is it only criminals who have been hidden and protected from extradition for a certain number of years who get to escape doing their time? A murder victim's family might express forgiveness towards the murderer, but that does not mean that the murderer gets to escape the hangman's noose. Of course Samantha (the victim here) has expressed forgiveness. Do you think that she wants to live with 30 years of constant hate towards the guy that drugged and raped her? Don't use her willingness to forgive as a way of justifying a criminal's escape from justice. The crime was not only committed against the 13 year old child, but against society as well. Oh, and lastly, please don't throw out the 'jew card' here. Many people come from tragic backgrounds and don't commit vile crimes. You mock every single person who died in the camps by trying to justify his behavior - or release from incarceration - that way.

[Funenj]

Maybe we should let Manson go free. He never personally murdered Sharon Tate. Besides, it happened so long ago.

[Guy from the US]

Yes the US is silly wanting to prosecute a man after he admitted to rape by use of drugs, perversion, sodomy, lewd and lascivious act upon a child under 14, and furnishing a controlled substance (methaqualone) to a minor.

This man should be welcomed home a hero instead of changed with a crime. What kind of just and civil society are we trying to run here??

[AJ]

I love all these folks that think he should continue to live it up in Europe as a free man. Why in the hell shouldn't he be extradited and face trial? Because it's been so long? Get out of here. People that believe he should remain a free man are the same ones that look the other way whenever someone commits a crime or behaves poorly. As long as it doesn't affect me, I don't care what anyone does. It's the standard European, liberal, ignorant response to controversy or confrontation. No morality, no judgment placed upon others. Just avoid dealing with issues like this and everything will be A-OK. Are u nuts?

[mike in tn]

Funny that you can't be under 13 to post on this board.
He needs to stand trial.
The pain of young people being abused never goes away.
Justice on earth, mercy from God.

[Shinea]

You self righteous Europeans and your willingness to allow a CHILD MOLESTER to escape justice are the reason there are so many children around the world being exploited. You see nothing wrong with a 43 year old using a 13 year old for his sexual gratification yet you scream bloody murder when a Saudi marries a 14 year old. You are hypocrites at best and closet child molesters yourselves at worst. You dare to accuse the Americans of pandering to the media? Because Polanski is not some scruffy street vagrant but an "artist" you excuse him his degeneracy! That says more about you then it does of him.

[John Hansen]

Woah, seems to be a lot of pro statutory rape comments here

[D]

You people who are making light of his crime are seriously sick. He sodomized a 13 year old girl! This is funny to you? You think this is something we should just let go? Sickos!

[ArcticLion]

Polanski's arrest is good news. He thinks that because he is a "celebrity" and has wealth he can get away with anything. It was clearly a case of forced rape of a minor. It should not go unpunished. I certainly hope he is brought back to the US so that his prosecution can be completed. He had it coming. I hope there is no room for "negotiating" here. Thanks to the Swiss for their cooperation in this matter.

[Ambergris]

The man plead guilty to the charges over 30 years ago and then fled the country to avoid sentencing. This wasn't a trial situation. This was a pleading in front of a judge.

Hard to have any sympathy for the man under those circumstances.

[Matt]

If a dude drugs, rapes, and sodomizes a 13 little girl -- he gets introuble in America. What is wrong with following laws? Stay out of America if you don't like our laws.

What is it with the French?

[Adam B]

Look, I have a lot of respect for Polanski's films, but I don't believe that there should be a second legal code written up just for self-indulgent artists or celebrities. The man essentially drugged and raped a 13-year-old--so what if she forgives him now? If the guilty party in this case was a janitor down at your daughter's middle school you and everyone else and their grandmother would want the guy locked up for eternity.

[Martha]

Sorry, but when I was 13 I could have seduced just about any man. (And the one man I did seduce had no idea I was 'under age' until shortly before our wedding day). Unlike some of you here, I remember when I was 13. Most of the planet marries off their daughters by 13, or at least tries to do so. This is absurd - although many 13 year old white girls are innocent and naive, this 'victim' was not one of them, by her own admission.

Marie in Virginia.

[Martin]

There was a very interesting hour-plus documentary about the Polanski "saga" and how the judicial process ultimately failed in this case. As I vaguely recall, there was a level of media frenzy and attorney screw ups that even the prosecution later admitted to. Also, the victim, now a mature adult, has publicly forgiven him.

After years of haggling, the criminal portion of the case was about to be settled when Polanski had enough and fled to Europe (France .. where he lives, I believe). Again, this was after Polanski tried to cooperate with authorities. He did not flee justice. He fled from a judicial process gone wild and a system that was altered solely because of his celebrity.

We have more important subjects before us today than reliving a decades old crime that no longer has a victim or a true place in our international media.

[Beez]

I love all the sarcasm here that implies 'Polanski wasn't a threat, why bother?'

Put simply - this less about his (original) crime any more, and more about whether we should simply let fugitives skip town and openly live the high-life abroad. If you do it for him, you'll have to do it for many, many others.

[real estate rebate]

30 years, why did it take so long?

[Steven]

Now I will have to find a Swiss product to buy. If someone raped my 13 year old daughter, I would want the Marshalls to keep at it forever. Anyone defending him should think about their own children.

[Dan]

Drugged and raped a 13-year-old. I'm glad he was finally apprehended. He's not only a rapist, but he's a coward. A rich coward who hides behind his money. A big thank you to the US Gov't.

[Mike JC]

Don't cry for him Argentina. Personally, I don't care what Europe thinks or does in these matters. If they want to have 13 year old girls be drugged and then assaulted by older men, fine, degrade their own society. My daughter is 13, if it had been my daughter, Polanski might not have had any legs to run away on.

It doesn't matter what the girl thinks. We don't let people get off for robbing someone if the victim says, "Oh, I don't mind." Polanski thought he was hot spit and could thumb his nose at the law. Well, when he gets to jail, he will find the inmates do not like child molesters--even if they are movie directors.

Also, judges don't like people who skip out and child molesters are even more harshly sentenced now than when he ran away.

[Ergle]

This guy should have been chased down and caught years ago. That he managed to evade capture and perform his art quite well is immaterial. He is a convicted rapist and should be made to serve his sentence.

[slor]

Depite LA Times' patent bias toward celebrities, I am far from persuaded. Let the old coot fry!!!

[Indentured Servant Girl]

In Hollywood, if a person utters a racial slur, they are lucky if they ever work again. If they utter an ethnic slur, against the wrong group, their reputation will be ruined forever, and no matter what they do or say, forgiveness will not be forthcoming.

But take topless photos of, drug, rape and sodomize a 13 year old girl (and in 1977, pre-Brittany Spears, 13 year old girls still played with Barbies), and there are no professional consequences, that person not only still finds work, and actors willing to work with him, but he goes on to win an Academy Award!

All the commenters here making excuses for that slime make me want to vomit.

[Laura]

Polanski should stand trial for this. Yes, there are many people in American jails, because they are criminals. You prbably would like it better if we just had sharia law and the girl could have been killed for being dishonored. Many girls and women get so sick of scrutiny after rape cases that they don't want to go through with them. Rape is a very embarrassing crime to the victim. It looks like her mom, Polanski, the media and the public were all against the victim here. What you seem to be saying is that because he's rich and famous, he should be allowed to get away with child rape.

[John Mendez]

I am also very pleased the victim has moved past this, and I agree Polanski is to stand before a judge and have his case argued and judged fully, not go skip town like a coward! Drugging, raping & sodomizing a 13-year old girl who repeatedly says, "NO" is not only a crime, but a sin! I pray for Polanski and all the posters here who defend his detestable behavior. It is sinners who Christ saves. Time for Roman to plead for God's tender forgiveness and mercy.

[batfly]

This would be a perfect plot for Cold Case?

[Lane M.]

The US is on par with Saudi Arabia? Really? The arrest of a man who raped, sodomized, and drugged a minor is equivalent to torturing prisoners by means of electric shock, nail pulling, flogging or amputation of limbs, or beheading for committing theft or abusing drugs?

Please don't exaggerate Polanski's fate while simultaneously cheapening the plight of Saudi citizens by comparing the abuses of the vile Saudi justice system to an arrest of a person who admitted to committing a crime against a minor then fled the country to avoid punishment.

[Winnercreek]

The man raped a 13 year old Girl. He shouldn't be a famous director. He should be just getting out of jail. Maria, Dave and Kim you have got to be some of the most ignorant pile of compost to ever walked the face of this earth.

[MC]

I can't believe how stupid some Europeans are. Polanski RAPED a 13 year girl, after he DRUGGED her! Then, when discovered, he RAN and left America instead of facing a TRIAL!

There is nothing barbaric or middle-eastern like about putting a rapists on trial, especially after he has ran from the trial for the last 31 years.

I guess if Polanski raped your 13 year old and then fled from Europe you would be cool with that as long as he didn't rape anyone else?

[Erik]

So the logic in Europe is you don't arrest old men, no matter what they do? Or is this just for celebrities? Or is rape not considered a big deal in Europe? This reaction from Europe is very confusing and troubling. It makes me scared to visit there.

[ExhumeNixon]

Surem hunt down and prosecute Polanski while the mass murderers Bush, Cheney and Rowe roam free.

[Greg Z]

It's my understanding that Rush Limbaugh has a similar charge pending outside the US (DR) as does Rupert Murdoch in the Phillipines.

[Chaylon]

I dont care how long its been, he should be brought to justice. I am saddened by the callousness of some of the postings here. Where is your compasion for the oppressed? And why does elapsed time = justification? If we really care about Mr. Polanski we should be happy he is now in a position to come clean. Before men yes, but more significantly, before God, who might have mercy on his tortured soul.

[Joe Idiot]

This is a serious accusation - no matter how long ago. The Swiss obviously take the case seriously as well as their relationship with the USA and international agreements. If Polanski was not a celeb - few people would standing up for this man. If I am wrong, please poing out a case where you were opposed to another accussed rapist - fugative getting arrested? The man deserves his day in court - but so do the people of California.

[Alex]

As a conservative and a former police officer, I don't think this case should be pursued. The victim does not seem to care and questions linger about the judge and prosecutor in the case acted improperly when it was first tried. The case should be dismissed in the interests of "justice" and forgotten. Many times our system revolves around retribution rather than justice.

Seriously, we have to establish reasonable priorities in an era of economic realities and shrinking prospects. We can't dot every i or cross every t in such times, so we have to establish what is truly important and what is not. To spend several hundred thousand dollars in bringing Polanski back to LA is beyond idiocy. Hell, he left here 30 years ago and we haven't had to pay anything to house, clothe or feed him. Keep him out of the US.

I remember this case fairly well and it seems that there was a lot of collusion between the judge and the DA's office. That alone, is reason to question the fairness of the trial in the first place. If this were truly about justice, close the matter and be done with it! Polanski was frightened at how he perceived he was railroaded. What would you have done if you had options to get out of town before sundown?

I certainly do not condone what this man did to the young lady, but after 30 years? Come on now, get real! Let France have him. What may be a crime here may not be a crime there and if the victim chooses to move on, why make a big deal out of it?

Some Europeans have suggested that President Obama could grant clemency in this case. I don't think the President has that authority since it is a California state case. Only a judge can order the case dismissed, or the governor can grant state clemency for a crime committed here.

Not to excuse Polanski by any measure, but this guy has seen more tragedy in life than most of us will ever know. The deaths of his mother and family in the camps and his wife and friends at the hands of Manson and his crew. Yes, he's been through enough. Keep him out of the US and call it a day.

[unclesmrgol]

If you do the crime, you should serve the time.

Maybe ACORN will defend the pedophile, but I sure won't.

[hollyweirdo]

Jake T. appears to support pedophilia if it's someone he admires, or perhaps for other reasons. Love the way skank-brains say it's okay for Polanski, but not okay for the little folks. Maybe Jake T. is a member of an elite above the law.

[danc]

Polanski is a bum. Hopefully, someone will shoot him and kill him as he is being moved about.

Failing that, I would like to see him sodomized in prison, just so he can learn what it feels like.

I am really sick of celebrities who believe the normal rules of human behavior and decency don't apply to them.

And the cynicism of 'the streets being made safe' fails to amuse me. How would you feel if it were YOUR child he had violated? So the family took a couple million from him as compensation, so what? That's justice?

Once a scumbag, always a scumbag. I'm sure his children are SO proud of him...