L.A. prosecutors planned Polanski arrest after learning he would be accepting award in Zurich [Updated]

Director Roman Polanski is in Swiss custody awaiting extradition to Los Angeles after being arrested in Zurich in connection with his 1977 Los Angeles rape case.

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.

Asked if prosecutors would ask that Polanski be sentenced to time behind bars if he was returned to the U.S., she 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.

Polanski, now 76 and a married father of two, asked the court to throw out the entire case in December based on new allegations of prosectorial 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."

The Swiss Justice Ministry said Polanski was taken into custody after he flew in to receive an award at the Zurich Film Festival.

[Updated at 9:20 a.m.: 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.]

The ministry issued the following statement:

"Yesterday evening Roman Polanski was arrested at his arrival and was put in provisional detention in view to extradition based on an US arrest warrant. The US authorities are accusing Roman Polanski of sexual acts with minors, specifically in a case of 1977 with a 13 year old girl in Los Angeles. Since the end of 2005 the US authorities are searching worldwide for Roman Polanski.

"An US arrest warrant against Roman Polanski exists since 1978. Whether Roman Polanski will be effectively extradited to the USA or not, can be established only, after the extradition process judicially has been finalised. It is possible to appeal at the federal penal court of justice against an arrest warrant in view to extradition as well as against an extradition decision. Their decisions can be taken further to the federal court of justice. In respect to this pending process it is not possible to give any further information."

-- Harriet Ryan

Photo: 2005 file image, Gerard Julien / AFP/Getty Images

Comments

[Kay]

What a waste of taxpayers money!

[Alexander]

Some one is getting browny points with the USA, can't wait to see how far this goes.

[chicago]

good. this guy is a rapist, he drugged and abused a child. what about nicholson? he is a scumbag. these men think they are above the law bc they are hollywood? polanski should go to prison for the rest of his miserable life. way to go usa.

[Rohit Verma,MD]

I say lock him up

[Rohit Verma,MD]

I say lock him up

[John Simmons]

So much for neutrality.

First the Swiss banks turn over private information about Americans, so that the infinitely corrupt and supremely unchecked IRS can harass people for more money. Now they ambush Polanski. I guess Switzerland has become just another boot-licking sycophant, a stooge of the American empirical machine. It's a sad development, given the historical relevence and political effectiveness of their neutrality. Of course, the same thing has happened to Ireland, another country with a constitution based on neutrality, but which allows American troops to organize and stage military excusions into Iraq from the Shannon military base. All this is done despite active protests from Irish citizens.

When US laws circumvent and quash the laws of other nations, there can be no sovereignty. And considering that the US is the most hyper-legalist country on the globe, what we are talking about is pure fascism.

Other examples of these abuses can be easily found in the methodologies used to prosecute presumed terrorists, based only on clearly unrelated and always cirumstantial evidence taken from such sources as private e-mails, travel plans and other innocuous activities. Of course, the unlawful (via Constitutional standards, and basic human rights) gathering of private information used to prosecute people is being used now in other arenas, including the preposterous "drug war." Anything seen as an aberration from the norm can be labeled a terrorist threat, and pursued with the unlimited powers that has been granted to all law enforcement agencies via the Patriot Act - one of the most ironic names given to some of the most draconian legislation in all of US history.

I thought this type of strong-arm political and legal bullying was a by-product of the Bush regime, and the neo-con dominated legislature and bureacracies. It's sad to see that it continues, and in some way flourishes, under the Obama administration.

So much for change.

[John Regan]

I actually think we should lock him up and throw away the key,ok. You can't flee the long arm of the law,ok. There has to be some justice in this world I'm all about justice and treating others fairly,ok. If we can't have that then what do we really have, ok. I like A good movie as much as the next guy,k and I love the ladies ok but you don't see me out there with no restraint,ok. Meanwhile this guy had his fun and thinks he can outrun the law?!!! That's not right,ok.

[directore]

Well they finally put their hands on him, now he's theirs and they will screw with him like nobody ever was screwed with before in California.

Because they had their sights on him for decades while he jeered them from his safe heaven in France - imagine that, France! - expect perp-walk abuses before leering media on the scale rarely seen in Hollywood before, medieval shackles, orange jump suits, court security thugs 10 cm away from him at all times always in leering menacing postures, remotely activated paralyzing belts on his back all the time, etc, etc. Total denial of any human dignity at every step of the process, including violations of his personal physical inviolability at every possible opportunity. Standard fare in US courts, jails and prisons.

But topped off with many hours of prison raping as this is a well established tradition in US prisons in cases like his. Delayed 30 years but finally delivered likely with a special vengeance which might be hard for somebody his age, over 75.

So, one short reckless step across the border and all of the sudden he is totally at the mercy of one of the most overbearing, most mediaeval, merciless, vindictive, inhumane, vicious, prickly, legal system in the Western World. I predict he will be on his knees from the day one praying for a chance to return to the civility of Europe.

Feel really sorry for him.

[Todd Lanman]

I think they should set him free. This is ridiculous. Rush limbaugh told me about this on fox news and he said we should think closely about the precedent were setting here. I mean are who are we to throw a stone. I like the company of a nice young woman. Who's to say she didn't ask for it. Fox news feels this is a witch hunt.leave the poor guy alone he's old now. I mean really

[mt]

Doesn't the LA DA have bigger fish to fry like Gang members terrorizing our streets than go after a film director who's victim said there was no crime and who has been through so much tragedy (murder of then pregnant wife Sharon Tate). Leave him alone already.
Lets face it, our prosecutors can be ego maniacs sometimes.

[Eli Baron]

This is ridiculous I happen to love young nubile women. What's wrong with maiming people I do it all the time

[truth is my bitch]

It's about time this pervert gets justice! hurrah

[Lili Mironov]

I am just sitting at home here in Zurich, having been looking forward to attend the Film Festival and cannot believe this farce. I am well aware of Polanski's artistic oevre and respect his movies, even though I don't consider myself a fan of his. I've read many times many versions about this "rape" case and though he did have sex with a minor the question remains what this minor was doing at Nicholson's place in the first case?! Some 30 years ago! They were both looking for trouble and they got it and the case is long over. Sorry, but an underage girl at a Hollywood party is not there to talk Nietzsche with the hosts.
Might the Swiss authorities actually try to please the United States in order to placate the uproar over the ongoing banking dispute between the two countries? Come on, this from the country that just excused itself to Ghaddafi for having (justifiedly!!!) arrested his abusive son last year for battery of his personal slaves in Geneva.

[Shoshannah Descarte]

In all the press I have read in regards to Roman Polanski it has failed to mention that he has been 'alleged' to of raped a minor. They just print that he is a fugitive over raping a minor. The US sucks and I would run too, go Roman!

[el guapo]

Another child molester apprehended. Maybe Garridos' future cellmate.

[h]

Forget it, Jake. It's Chinatown.

[raymund mulray]

A 13 year old....and the Post a Comment above says if you're under 13 you can't comment here...ironic...

[Kate T.]

The LA County district attorney’s office should hold their collective heads in shame! Internationally this is embarrassing and makes the US justice system look vindictive & pathetic.

[Nick]

Poor guy. Hasn't he suffered enough? Let's forget about the laws that he broke because he happens to have some talent in the field of entertainment. I guess the same laws that protected Michael Jackson also apply here. Bring him back to this country and put him in prison.

[jay johnson]

it been globaly well know that 13 yr old girls dont need to be drugged to have sex, they usually bring their own.

[Jorge]

I don't believe it. The U.S. government extraditing a felon for a crime that has as many faults with both parties, the accuser and accused, and yet, we don't bring to trial the perpetrators of war crimes, genocide, corruption to the nth degree, and these are just the tip of the judicial iceberg. What parent would allow their daughters to be with a grown man alone in a mansion, where most likely, drugs were been used and children, regarding sex, are not that child anymore; not then, not now. What happened to statute limitations? I thought that they only crime exempt from that rule was a homicide. This case proves without any doubt how our judicial system has lowered its standards. We don't relent in bringing to justice a case, that most likely was consensual and yet when we are talking war crimes, nobody wants to do any thing about them. Is this hog haven hypocrisy or what.

[fed up]

ANOTHER case of DA Steve Cooley's office being unable to 'let go" of an ancient case because they have their own vanity at stake, can't face the fact that they might actually lose out on Polanski.

Yes Polanski is guilty as sin, yes it was disgusting to have consensual sex with a 13-year old: as the mother of teens I think Polanski is the lowest form of life to take advantage: especially of someone barely a teen whose hormones far exceed common sense. It's bad enough after 16, but this young is a child. Yes, it's too bad he had the ability to make a successful life after that as though he were flaunting the law.

BUT Cooley is taking this too PERSONALLY again as his own "loss" in not being able to "get" someone. That is his pattern, and what is dangerous about the man and how his whole DA's office operates.

The victim now, 32 years later, has been pleading for the case to be DROPPED. She does not want to relive it, to have to testify, admits it was consensual and now as a middle-aged woman, wants the episode to go away. Polanski is 78 years old, and while like Woody Allen may be a creepy person when it comes to his relationships, he is not a menace to anyone now and hasn't been in 32 years. Pursuing him and this case is an expense we can't justify when there are so many more pressing, dangerous criminals out there, from rapists to felons to ID thieves. There is no reason to "get" him, every reason "not" to.

This case is different from those of Lisker, just released with great reluctance by Cooley's office after he served decades in prison for a crime he probably did not commit, for which there was no evidence, but after scoring a conviction the DA's office refused to admit its mistake and preferred to hide the evidence: namely Lisker, and as this paper's own editorial said last week, instead of apologizing to him for stealing decades of his life, "kicked him on his way out the door."

In the case of Deborah Peagler, a poor black woman who killed an abusive boyfriend/ pimp decades ago, the DA's office new she should have been released almost 2 decades earlier but continued to hold her for First Degree instead of manslaugher anyway, to cover up their bungling, and fought her release until she finally was released recently with months to live from terminal cancer.

A Superior Court judge ruling for her release blasted Cooley, his Chief Deputy Curt Livesay (not handed over to Trutanich by Cooley as HIS chief Deputy) for a culture of covering up, "circling the wagons" to prevent the truth from being revealed, and intimidation of underlings who might blow their cover.

Again, no apology from them, just anger that their "record" at keeping people convicted (even on FALSE evidence or by withholding evidence that would exonerate them, as in Peagler's case) in jail for life was being ruined. It's ALL about ego to them, specifically Steve Cooley, and THAT makes the fact that he operates with a feeling of certainly HE can get away with anything, the really scary issue here. Far more than anyone should be scared of Polanski.

[Peter Noble]

Is this a joke? Why now? Polanski has been openly visiting Switzerland for decades.
I'm not sure who directly had the idea of dragging a 76 year old fugitive here for a media show trial but there's a surreal air about this case and something stinks about the timing. The DA's office has hardly had a good success rate with such trials. Guess they are all still smarting over the Jackson trial?
This will be a total farce and a national disgrace: no matter the outcome.

[derek]

child rapists including woody allen and roman polanski should be publicly executed

[cally]

I guess his vanity got the better of him? What a waste of taxpayer money. LA DA needs to go.

[Elizabeth]

Good it's about time he needs to face justice and he should be sentenced to jail.I know that won't make a lot of Hollywood people happy but grown men having sexual contact with a 13 year old child does not make me happy. Just for the record I do not care that the victim wants to be done with this situation nor do I care that he is a great director or that his wife and unborn child were victims of a horrible senseless crime many other people who have as hard life stories get sentenced to jail when they are convicted of a crime Roman Polanski should not be treated any differently.

[BW]

There was an agreement that the judge tried to renege on. If there was a prosectorial and judicial misconduct conducted (as current facts have come out just recently), then the case should (and should have years ago) been thrown out. Hasn't the statue of limitations already expired for this?

Polanski has made his legal restitution far above what the legal statute requires, which was accepted. The victim, Samantha Geimer has joined in Polanski's bid for dismissal, saying she wants the case to be over. She sued Polanski and reached an undisclosed settlement. Under the laws of California, he did time served as the original plea called for and paid the financial penalties.

Why pursue it except to make a name for some new DA who might be running for office?

[bkl]

And not one of his lawyers ever told Polanski that Switzerland has an extradition treaty with the US? He should be in jail for stupidity as well as for rape.

[Andrews]

Hopefully he will get a fair trial in the Gang and Illegal Alien
Capital of the USA where some laws are upheld
and others are ignored!

[Vic]

Poor poor, Roman, it obvious who the REAL victim is here! You rape and sodomize one 13 year old girl and right away the finger pointing starts. The man males good movies (for the most part) does that not give him right to engage in a little child molestation without all attention? Sure, he is a fugitive from justice but they were going to lock this genius up! How unfair would that be? That this talented director have to pay for his disgusting crimes just like any every day criminal?

[Toni Villiger]

Switzerland has 2 of its citizen held hostage by Ghadafi. It could very well be that they are looking for the help of the USA.

[bkl]

Speaking of stupidity, it was Polanski's own lawyers who brought his case back to the attention of the district attorney by going into court and trying to get his conviction overturned without the appearance of the fugitive himself. Good move lawyers!

[Sabrina]

Not saying what Roman Polanski did was right...it certainly wasn't but if one is going to go after him after all this time, shouldn't they be also going after OTHER famous people who did similar things? Look at Led Zeppelin...most of them were diddling teenaged groupies back then, too...and yet, they walk free, don't they?

[Jordy]

This is completely ridiculous.

[Balanor]

Finally, the DA has a high profile case to curl his feathers.

Perhaps he'll start paying attention to the hundreds of homicides and rapes in modern day L.A., now that he has wasted tax dollars on an old old celebrity case...surely Natasha Kinski doesn't give a damn.

[E K]

Statutory Rape of a 13-year-old girl. You people are SICK!

[Steve]

He had a deal in place, and then a crooked judge reneged on it. That's not fair.
The girl, now 45, wants no part of it. This sounds to me like a DA running for higher office and trying to score points.

[ocrez]

The US should have better things to do right now don't they? Arresting this man over something that happened decades ago and even the victim is OVER IT.
She is NOT scarred by what happened. She has moved on and so has Polanski. Our court system here sucks in LA. We are going through shooting after shooting,look at S.LA! And we are spending OUR money to have him extradited back the US and incarcerated? The courts here are just waiting for a media court day I suppose. This man has survived the Holocaust & the murder of his wife & unborn child. Including close friends. HE HAS SUFFERED ENOUGH!!
The Swiss authorties need to release this man and tell the US court to get lost! This is embarrassing to us!

[rmmp49]

About damn time this pervert does his deserved time for this crime of rape, oral sex and sodomy of a 13 year old girl! If he was anyone else, he would have been in jail forthwith! Not a waste of taxpayers money in my mind. Why can't people see that it's not right to let people off like this just because of their "name". I guess those same people would suggest that Jaycee be put back in her backyard prison with that nut and let him out too just because she was there for a long time. People have some common sense already! Don't try to dovetail one issue or case with another. This man is a pervert and should be held accountable for his convicted crime. Otherwise simple give amnesty to all those who've been convicted or are on the run for a convicted crime after XX period of time. Send the message to their victim(s) dead and/or alive and their heart-broken family members left to live a life without their loved ones that we no longer care about their no justice given.

[todd]

I am stunned by some of the comments here about the victim's culpability in this statutory rape. This girl was only 13 at the time and legally incapable of consent. He was a 43 year-old worldly man who indulged his perversions at her expense. I don't necessarily think it is worth our time and money to pursue an old man 33 years later, but claiming that this child asked for it or should have known what she was getting herself into is sick.

[buz]

Why do people here get so defensive of this slimey creep. Even give him awards for his crappy films. He is accused of raping a 13 year old. Let him face the charges and the law. I truely feel that liberals suffer from a form of mental illness and this bizarro defensiveness of Roman Polanski is yet another example.

[Mike OHara]

He pleaded guilty (and paid off the victim civilly), so he's actually guilty. Then he ran away before sentencing. Had he faced the music, it'd all have been forgotten decades ago. Even if parts of the HBO "documentary" are to be believed, he could have appealed any injustice. He's being extradited to show that running away won't help the guilty.

[Alex Garcia]

Im not sure what the big deal is. I mean being gay and all and the fact that I like men I do not think what Roman did is such a big deal. I initially thought there was something wrong with liking men too but now look at me Im out and about. Im in it to win it. I say set Roman free, we need more people like Roman out there. This was a set up. I was set up once at a bath house. Didn't see it coming either. Imagine poor Roman up there on the stage to accept his award. As a gay man and on the behalf of my community I say let him go.

[nat turner]

He should have hired Hugh Rodham for a pardon . The good news is some lawyer's daughter gets a full ride scholarship .

[Simon Afeef]

I say set him free. I think this is ridiculous. I was supposed to buy my girlfriend a wedding ring and instead I bought myself a Rolex, now that is ridiculous. I thought I was going to get locked up for that but did I ? No. In fact Im getting married Thanksgiving weekend now. So now you're going to lock up poor Roman Polanski. I say set him free.

[Thomas Wohldstater]

Im glad they finally caught up with him. I have a great photo of myself wearing a leotard that recently caught up with me. I recently opened a nail salon, thats right me a guy a full grown male opening a nail salon. You think if I stopped paying my lease the government wouldnt come after me this is ridiculous

[Ruben Vaillez]

This is crazy its too late to press charges now. Cant we all just be nice to everyone. Lets just be nice guys. Cant we all just get along. I say we just let everyone roam free. Lets all just go hunting together. Lets go camping, brokeback style. I think they should set him free.

[Melanie Helena Overby]

Give us , us free. I loves me some Roman Polanski. I loves me some Rosemarys baby. Let Roman go.

[alexandra ankrah]

As a British women, I was appalled that in the USA you have men, who are willing to openly state they think that a 13 year old child drugged or otherwise could consent to sexual activity with an older male.

It is sad that Polanski did not face justice many years ago - that was his choice - not the survivor of the abuse that he already has made admissions to harming. The Justice system he ran from, is a justice system that he found acceptable in the case of his own wifes's murder.

If people feel they need to use their energy - do not let it be in defence of this man who harms the reputation of America, has not paid tax to your society or faced up to the courts - but think instead of ways of using your energy to:
1. Prevent abuse of children.
2. Sending out a message to all nations that it is wrong to normalise sex with children under sixteen - be they the children of the poor pushed into sex tourism or children in the so called 'developed world' who society are failing to safeguard.

As a society we reap what we sow - and by not taking action, for years the USA has in effect said it is fine to abuse children.

[rickw]

He is a great movie maker. He is a great director. He is a great producer. He has suffered greatly in his life - losing his mother to the holocaust, growing up poor.

However, he must stand in response to this crime on a 13 year old. I am sorry, but if he were a black or latino dude living in L.A. and this subject came up, there would be riots if he was able to make a deal to spend a few days in jail and get out to continue his life as usual.

Am I the only one here seeing this?

[Dave Keller]

There are two legal issues in this matter. The first is the sexual assault, of which Mr. Polanski was already convicted. Should he be sentenced? Of course, since that is the law. He should sentenced to whatever the sentencing recommendation was at the time. The sentence should then be suspended, with the standard offender registration requirements and standard good-conduct requirements that normally would be imposed on any other parolee. The second is more complex. Mr. Polanski did, in fact, flee the jurisdiction to avoid serving time either in the county jail or in the state prison. That is an entirely different offense. It was a violation of the conditions of Mr. Polanski being allowed to remain free, pending the resolution of the primary criminal case. This is a serious crime and should result in punishment. That is the law of the land in California. If you do not like the law, change it. Of course, such a change would result in many serious violent felons going free by merely being clever to flee the jurisdiction and remain outside of the long arm of the law long enough. Legally speaking, the passage of time does not have a impact on the seriousness of the offense. To argue otherwise is does not make sense. The law is the law and should be applied evenly. Whatever punishment Mr. Polanski receives for fleeing is, of course, a judge's decision. The judge will probably impose a short jail sentence and require Mr. Polanski to reimburse the county for the expense of housing him. More importantly, Mr. Polanski will most likely be placed on felony probation for several years and be forced to remain in Calfornia during that time.

[Cleo Watts]

As a black man, I find it to be very discouraging that there are people in society that will come to the defense of a child molester. That is all Mr. Polanski is. A child molester.

I wonder if these defenders would feel that same way if it was their 13 year-old daughter who was molested?

[xftuxtu]

leave the man alone

[M Hirsch]

Here's a simple solution, drag his butt to LA (regardless of the politics of where he is coming from) give him 30 years of probation, a sex offender status and make him pay for all the court fees and costs associated with his case. That is barely a slap on his wrist/wallet, the case ends and the DA can put this in the win column and move on to other scum.
End of story on a semi talented director.

[mike]

Medieval, vindictive, vengeful: let me count the adjectives. I can't help but think that if a whole slew of DA minions were forced to travel to (and wine and dine in) say, Moldova or Turbanstan on the Taxpayers' credit card, there would be much less interest in this case. You can be sure the trifecta of all-expense paid travel to Swinging Switzerland and France, a high-profile "win" (make me gag) for the Cretin Also Known As the District Attorney, and the points made with the Bible-Thumpers for "protecting our kids" insures this sordid tale will go on forever and ever. Got to distract the masses with something and Orange Jumpsuited Perps in the "Patriot Position" (hands against the wall and feet spread) makes for great mind-numbing television. (And now a word from our sponsors, Xe (aka Blackwater), Lockheed-Martin, Coca-Cola, and Taser Industries. We'll be right back with more breaking news.)

[Elle]

He mades wonderful movies, but on the other had he had sex with children.

Their no exeption of the rule: He needs to be punished.
It does not matter how long this is ago.

[About time]

His arrest was absolutely justified and overdue. He had sex with child, one of reportedly many children. He's a pedophile and should not be treated with kid gloves because he has talent, is famous, and had a horrible family tragedy. Let him defend himself within the justice system. And why did Jack Nicholson have 13-year-old girls inside his jacuzzi?

[JD]

You bleeding hearts make me sick. If it were your child that was raped by this pervert you'd be singing a different tune. The scumbag was convicted and then ran away. Nothing but a coward. Hopefully, in prison, he'll get the same that he did to that little girl.

[shocked]

Leave Roman Polanski alone!!!!!!!!!!Arrest the mother of the girl who dressed her up to look like a 25 year old and dropped her off at Jack Nicholson's party!

[J K]

If it were your 13-year-old daughter he had been convicted of raping, you wouldn't think it a waste of taxpayers' dollars. You'd think it was justice.

As I do.

[Mara Kingston]

The US INJUSTICE Dept. has struck again! What a waste of taxpayer's money!! He is 76 years old. This happened over 30 years ago. His victim (a 13 year old at Hollywood Party - what was she doing there then? Where was her parental supervision?) doesn't want to press charges. LET HIM BE FREE! He has contributed so much to the arts and enjoyment to humanity...let him keep on doing good. And Switzerland...what happened to neutrality? Is this another appeasement to BIG BULLY??? The US has the highest incarceration rate in the world, all to satisfy its greed for more $$...with most detainees being there for victimless crimes. Wake up world!

[David]

How can any of you feel sorry for this guy? He raped a 13 year old girl. He belongs in 6 x 9 prison cell for the rest of his life and if he ever gets out needs to register as a sex offender. This man is a predator and needs to be treated as such. I do not care how many great films he has made.

[Jim]

Maybe the French Cultural minister can check Mr. Polanski's availability to babysit his grand daughter.

[Jim]

Reading the comments posted here makes me wonder which of you would have like to have Mr. Polanski spend some quality time with one of your 13 year old daughters.

[Mike]

The victim did NOT say the sex was consensual. Precisely the opposite in a 2003 L A Times op-ed. However, she says she doesn't harbor a desire to punish Polanski, and in the beginning was content with a guilty plea and time served.

[justinian]

The judge reneged on the deal made at that time; hence, Polanski's flight to a country that rationally considers criminal conduct. Apparently, he's no risk to France, which is a safer country than the U.S. by far. Too bad those resources couldn't have been used to capture Osama Bin Laden instead of those motivated by indignation, spite, and a perpetually lingering, daft, American Puritanism.

[Oldgeez]

I can't believe all the people defending this guy. He was 46 years old, she was 13!!!!! He lured her to the house with the pretext of modeling photos and probably the possibility of becoming famous. I'm sure the parents never thought for a moment that she was in danger. Then, he gave her alcohol and drugs and had some version (or versions depending on what you read) of sex with her!!! And that's ok???? Get real people...if you think it's all ok I would say send your 13 year old daughters over to my house but that is just disgusting!!!

He should rot in jail. He ran and snubbed justice for over 30 years, living the high life in France and getting all the admiration of the movie industry as if there never was a rape committed. "Oh that Roman, he is so cool and artsy".

Sheesh.

[MOV]

This guy is a pervert and he belongs in jail, period. It is amazing to me that there are so many men in our society that rise to the defense of such a disgusting individual. Perhaps there are far more perverts and pedophiles in our country than one would think, they are our co-workers, our neighbors, our teachers, our politicians...Lock-up your female children folks, obviously there are not enough decent men out there to protect them. Hope what happened to that 13 year old girl doesn't happen to one of your daughters or sisters you screw-up defenders of a child rapist.

[Les]

How stupid can the U.S way of justice get? This is Macho "I will show you" type of justice, nothing else.

[Inga]

I'm not sure if Todd Lanman is joking in his post or is serious. To quote him: "Rush limbaugh told me about this on fox news"

You believe Rush? you write as if he's a friend.

You ask we should think about the precedent being set - well, I think it is a damn good one. Statutory rape is statutory rape. Doesn't matter if the girl consented or even threw herself at him.

Is Polanski above the law? Are we setting the precedent that if you run away from your punishment it is OK and you should be let alone? HUH? Yeah, great precedent. All criminals should be forgiven if they run away from facing their punishment.

You say you "like the company of a nice young woman". Company is one thing...sex is a completely different thing. As i said above, statutory rape means THERE IS NO EXCUSE for sex with a minor. And, we're not talking about someone who is almost 18...this girl was 13 or 14. Well BELOW the age of consent, especially with a man much older than her.

Faux news thinks its a witch hunt. Huh? Do you know what a witch hunt is? If you did, you would know it doesn't apply in this case.

Are you able to think for yourself?

You say to "leave the poor guy alone he's old now." You mean that like Garido who is "old", we should leave him alone because he is old and I'm sure poor young Jaycee ASKED for it too. Yeah, there's another witch hunt for ya. I bet Rush thinks that Garido should be forgiven since he fathered 2 kids with Jaycee, and well, you wouldn't want your children to know they are the result of raping a minor!

Go crawl back under the rock you came out from under and don't re-surface until you can think for yourself. I hope your friends who have minor daughters read your post so they know to keep them away from you since you obviously don't know right from wrong yet.

[K]

Do you people really feel sorry for him and want him freed? He is accused of sexually assaulting a 13-yr old girl. What if that were your daughter? Some of you people are pretty sick.

[Betty48]

What a waste of money!!!! If he stays out of the country who cares??? The incident happened almost 40 years ago - I can think of alot of things that the gov't can spend time on!!! No wonder CA is hurting for $$ - if he does go to jail they shoild pay for his "rent"!

[Naomi]

There is actually HOPE.......and justice in the USA
So now it's time to arrest Bush, Cheney and...
Greetings from Europe

[barto]

Like JACK said, a few years after the alleged incident, ' Yeah, right, 13 goin' on 30'!

[Joe]

We arrested the son of Gaddafi because of mistreatment. So why shouldn't we arrest respectively hand over Polansky?
To make it clear: the request for extradition was given by the US (this is not a Swiss buzz)
By the way:
Neutrality doesn't mean to protect criminals!

Joe from Switzerland

[marc]

He should face the same punishment as anyone else. If he's allowed to go without punishment, then everyone who does this should also. It's that simple.

[Thomas Apostle]

Why do people even care about this when Michigan State is the real issue. Our football team is horrendous.We dont stand a chance against Michigan this year. The University of Michigan is obviously the best team in the state this year. I have to say Go Blue. If it wasnt for UCLA I would say they are the best team in the country. In fact Polansky probably couldve attended State with the rest of the thugs we produce there. I say Go Blue,Viva UCLA, Free Polanski and Free Plax

[George Not Bush]

Really the right thing to do is to leave the decision to the now 45-year old lady. If she came out saying she still felt abused, I'd have no problem nailing the guy.

However to the great disappointment of the moral absolutist horde, said lady has gone on record that she would much rather the entire episode be forgotten.

Likely she now has children in the teens and the last thing her family needs is for her earlier sexual history paraded over the airwaves -- or for television crews camped on her street.

Maybe she should sue the LA DA for putting her children through abuse.

[Dee Manning]

Oh good grief! The guy had most of his family killed by the nazis in WWII, and then his pregnant wife was murdered by the Manson family. I think that qualifies him to a break on this...

[vicky]

after I wrote my 1st comment, I read most of the comments people have already posted. I am a counselor who has worked extensively with those children who have been raped by a pedophile. It DOESNT MATTER that she was 13, for those of you who seem to think so. IT DOESNT MATTER that it was a long time ago. Don't any of you think about what that girl went through at that time and many years after? I'm hoping you are just ignorant of the psychological damage a child goes through. Are you going to blame a child for being there in the first place? Children trust adults and don't even THINK about what bad might happen. GET A CLUE, AMERICA.

[justice]

Europeans.....Mr. P. was an alian to United States....with limited citizen rights.... do you think poor black or chicano felons should be forgiven for same crime? If they run to africa or mexico and live in luxury with other 13 yr olds would you be so forgiving.....Rape is rape is rape....child rape is most perverted type of rape.....do laws in US apply evenly or are we demanding entitlements for certain titled persons.....if Mr. P. raped your 13 yr old daughter would you agree that he not answer for his crime 1 or even 100 yrs after the fact? You speak with distorted congnition...where on earth did you attract your logic.....Liberal or not......this is not a political issue. This is not america vs. the world. I believe most of you saying Mr. P should be forgiven and released are talking simply to talk. Are we to forgive all fellons because they could afford to run from justice? Or if fellons are "directors"....or "priests"....or because they may be Your relatives....or because the color of their skin.....tell it to wind! Some of you speak as if your privileged or kin to privileged. The reality i live in dictates,"you do the crime....you do the time!" Our laws don't read, "you do the crime, and your a european-director, you don't have to do the time." Where did you go to find execptions to our laws...where does it read "Mr. P. is a director and should not be held accountable for raping a 13 yr old child. Especially because he ran from the law and for 30 yrs and could not be caught, until now." Dis the Swiss do wrong in arresting and holding a child rapist as some have posted here? You that favor P's release, if you do, should sit aroung your next family dinner and present your position to your daughters, granddaughters, mothers, wives, and other female relatives, and friends...that is if you "truly" hold your conviction that he should not be held accountable. I double dare you to do this! mr. justice

[Glen Tepe]

Wow, I can't believe the commenter below is saying this is some sort of abuse. This jerk supposedly raped a 13-year-old girl, and has fled the country for decades because of it. He does deserve the right to a trial, but doesn't the 13-year-old girl deserve the right to confront him?

Maybe we should show a little more concerned for the girl, and a little less concerned because this bone-head knows how to make a movie.

[Sensible]

This is a complete waste of time and money. Polanski resolved this decades ago and served the agreed upon time in Chino.

He was evaluated while in Chino, and the psychiatrist who evaluated him determined that Polanski had made a "single error in judgement" and that he was "not a threat to society". He was to be released with some form of probation, and that was the agreement between the prosecutor and defense attorney.

When he learned that the judge intended to abrogate the agreement, he fled, fearing for his life were he to be returned to prison. This fear was entirely realistic on the part of Polanski and is a legitimate explanation for his flight.

I can only hope that France and Switzerland can work something out so that Polanski is not forced to endure what would doubtlessly be a classic trial by pundit, each pontificating more enthusiastically than the other. Let's hope Bill O'Reilly remembers his own sexual harassment case.

[Patrick]

Leave the man alone? You have to be joking, please explain he should be left alone? Because he got away for thirty years? Because he makes great films? Do you have a daughter I can babysit?

[Chris Brown]

Good. It is about time he faces up to the crime he has publicly admitted to have committed. Also, to all those spouting off when they don't know the facts of the case, he didn't have "consensual sex" with a 13-year old girl. He drugged her and physically forced her to have sex, as she has publicly stated as an adult in an interview. He used his money and influence to try and get a sweet-heart plea, which he was upset was rejected by the court. So, he fled justice, and when you flee justice, the statute of limitations does NOT apply.

At worst, if he was tried and convicted now, he would receive about a year in a minimum security jail. It seems to me, he should finally just own up to his crime, plead guilty and serve his year in jail (maybe write his memoirs while his there), and then move on with his life. Then, while I would still find his acts despicable, I would at least have a shred of respect for his show of integrity. Unfortunately, I doubt he has enough integrity to do what he should do.

I'm tired of seeing one set of justice for wealthy and influential people like Mr. Polanski, and another for everybody else. He deserves to be prosecuted and treated just like anyone else in his shoes would be.

As for the Swiss, they should be applauded for following international law and honoring the extradition treaty they signed and agreed to adhere by.

Hopefully, justice will be served, and a clear message will be sent that the wealthy and privileged cannot buy a different sort of justice for themselves.

[Rockboy]

Should we be spending taxpayer money on this? ABSOLUTELY! The same armchair liberals who want to see Catholic Priests locked up for raping 13 year old boys should be just as enthusiastic about seeing Polanski go to prison for raping a 13 year old girl. Wealth and Hollywood eliteism helped him escape justice for over 30 years. He mocked the justice system and now it's time to pay. You think a man who has been through so many tragedies in his life would not want to inflict pain on anyone else..but the truth is he did. Lock his child molesting butt up and throw away the key!!

[Frank]

You can run, but you can not hide. He needs to serve his time in jail - 10 years. France makes me sick. This sick country protect criminals and Nazis.

[captain grumpy]

He is a Paedophile. If he wants to throw out the case because of something in a documentory,Hell Ive seen lots of them,One by mr.al Gore. Wouldnt stand up in a true court of law.
He ran before being sentenced in a court of law. What would happen if you or I did that ??????
Send the child rapist to jail,PLEASE

[Dan]

Fascism, imperialism, corrupt IRS??? and then there is the raping of a 13 year old girl.... I am sure he is innocent, all the innocent powerful people run away. I know if I ever commit a terrible crime, I will run to France until I am dead.

[Patterico]

Sorry, I meant to publish that under Patrick Goldstein's piece.

[kerfos]

If some one raped my 13 yr old daughter that wouldn't live until trial. Especially not live the high life, make movies and flaunt the law publicly.

[Matt Doran]

How dare the U.S. protect the interests of 13 year old girls over the interests of 76 year old perverts that make critically acclaimed movies! And to all of you that say the US has better things to do than to go after Polanski, I pose this question to you- What makes you think this is going to get in the way of the federal government doing it's MANY other jobs? Also, as far as Swiss neutrality goes, THAT WAS MILITARY NEUTRALITY DURING WWII ! They have and have had for some time, extradition treaties with SEVERAL countries. They ARE NOT a haven for international criminals. If it's too late for you to pay attention in school, at least do a little research before showing your supreme lack of knowledge when posting here.

[EG]

Polanski brought this upon himself for pleading, then fleeing the country. Sadly, many of the posters that are critical of his arrest are people with clearly no understanding of the law or how the criminal justice system operates.

If you think that what Polanski admitted to doing should be legal, then lobby your legislator to change the law on statutory rape (and when you do that, remember she was 13, he was 31). Otherwise, prosecutors are going to do their job, which is enforce the law as written.

[Froggy]

What a silly thing to trust the Swiss authorities! Same thing during the war : those who tried to enter Switzerland from Nazi Germany with a passport stamped "Jude" were regularly sent back to death by the Swiss authorities. Not to mention the money stolen by Swiss banks from escheated accounts.

[Froggy]

What a silly thing to trust the Swiss authorities! Same thing during the war : those who tried to enter Switzerland from Nazi Germany with a passport stamped "Jude" were regularly sent back to death by the Swiss authorities. Not to mention the money stolen by Swiss banks from escheated accounts.

[Tom Wohlstadter]

I did not write the comment attributed to my name. I am not sure who did. I am not amused.

[june davidson]

Is there evidence that has been taken through DNA samples that could determine who the perpetrator was?

[Sarah]

Any man who has sex with a child should be castrated with a dull butter knife. I don't care who you are you should never be above the law.

[june davidson]

Was evidence collected for DNA samples to prove this case? It seems the victim
does not want to challenge this situation. Is she willing to testify? If not, how can they move forward with this case?

[Marilyn Miller]

Please do not allow this hype about "poor" Roman Polanski to become the mantra for this man. He is a child rapist and a coward. He should have faced up to his crime years ago. There is no such thing as consensual sex with a 13 year old. I don't care what the adult says now about what happened to her as a child. The nonsense that a district attorney "had it in for him", well he is a rapist period, no further discussion should be necessary. He does not even regret what happened he wants to put it off on losing his wife, the nazis or whomever else he can think of. He should spend the rest of his life in jail. I hope you will speak out for all the children that have been exploited, there should be no exceptions.

Marilyn Miller
19955 Nilsen Lane NW
Poulsbo, WA 98370
360-598-4582