Back in 1977, director Roman Polanski was photographing a 13-year-old girl, Samantha Geimer, at his friend Jack Nicholson’s home. Just days later, she accused Polanski of rape. She claimed Polanski fed her champagne and prescription drugs, then raped her repeatedly. At first, six charges were leveled at Polanski, and after the charges were filed, Polanski made a plea deal with the LA County’s district attorney in 1978. He pled guilty to “unlawful sexual intercourse” with an underage girl, and he was imprisoned for 42 days.
What happened then is rather sketchy, and there have been several different versions. Some versions have Polanski simply not wanting to serve any additional time in any jail, as per his plea deal, which led to his fleeing the United States. Other versions have a corrupt judge and/or district attorney who were trying to renege on the agreed-upon plea deal. It’s very confusing, and I’m honestly not sure what really happened. All I know is that in 1978, Roman Polanski fled the country on his French passport, and he’s never come back to the states once, not even to collect his Best Director Oscar for 2002’s The Pianist. (Sidenote: Jack Nicholson collected Polanski’s Oscar, and hand-delivered it to him in France.)
Since 1978, Polanski has lived in France for the most part, making his films and enjoying his freedom. The French authorities always claimed that they would not enforce an outstanding American extradition order because his crime was not covered by existing treaties between France and America. This weekend, the 76-year-old Polanski set out from his French home to head to Switzerland. He was due to receive a lifetime achievement award from Zurich Film Festival. The Swiss police arrested and detained Polanski as soon as he entered the country, and they have every intention to extradite him to the United States:
Director Roman Polanski, who fled the United States in 1978 after pleading guilty to having sex with a 13-year-old girl in California, has been arrested in Switzerland.
In a statement, the Zurich Film Festival, where Polanski, 76, was due to receive a lifetime achievement award, said the Oscar-winning director was held on his arrival in Switzerland Saturday.
A U.S. warrant for his arrest was issued when Polanski left the country more than 30 years ago before his sentencing. Polanski, a French citizen, has never returned to the U.S. since then and has sought to have the case against him dismissed.
The Swiss Federal Department of Justice and Police, which confirmed Polanski’s arrest on an outstanding American warrant, added that a decision to extradite him to the U.S. is subject to judicial procedure.
“Why now?,” a friend of Polanski told PEOPLE on Sunday. “We don’t understand. Roman has been to Switzerland before so we don’t understand why he’s been arrested this time.”
Earlier this year, a California judge demanded that the director return to the U.S. in order to apply for dismissal – something Polanski has refused to do for fear of being arrested on arrival as a fugitive.
Polanski’s victim, Samantha Geimer, who has said she long ago moved on with her life, told PEOPLE in 1997, “If Polanski comes back – fine. That would at least end it. It will never be over until that happens.”
The Polish born filmmaker – whose films include Rosemary’s Baby, Chinatown and 2002’s The Pianist, for which he was named Best Director (Harrison Ford accepted on his behalf) – is married to French actress Emmanuelle Seigner and has two children, Morgane and Elvis.
In 2005, he won a libel suit against Vanity Fair magazine over an article that accused him of propositioning a woman while on the way to the funeral of his murdered second wife, Sharon Tate, a victim of the 1969 Charles Manson killings.
[From People]
According to the Associated Press (via HuffPo), the Swiss authorities are waiting for the American government to make a formal extradition request. There’s still a lot of paperwork and legal and diplomatic wrangling to be done, but I think there’s a good chance Polanski could be back in America within the next few months. Although, Polanski has very powerful allies in the French government, and they might try to pull some major strings to get Polanski back. The French Minister of Culture, Frederic Mitterrand, is said to be briefing President Nicholas Sarkozy on the issues, so Sarko could step up big time.
People rake Polanski over the coals every few years, and Polanski’s victim, Samantha Geimer, usually gives a quote. The last time I remember her speaking out was after Polanski’s Oscar win, when she said publicly that Polanski’s case should be dismissed and all charges dropped. While I think she was definitely raped, I also think she’s dealt with what happened to her, and she’s looking for some peace. Polanski even paid Geimer an undisclosed settlement when she took her case to civil court. While it’s nice to see the Swiss stand up for justice everywhere, at some point people have got to drop this. I hope Polanski is extradited, brought to America, and the case can be formally resolved in a just way.
Roman Polanski is shown on 6/15/09 in Paris in the header and on 5/25/08 in Cannes below. Credit: PRPhotos
Perhaps people will ‘drop it’ when this hedious child abuser is forced to pay for his actual crime instead of being feted as a tortured genius who is misunderstood.
sex with a 13 years old teen is bad and illegal even if you’re a genius movie maker
Serves him right. You can’t get away with everything and putting your firlthy hands on a 13 year old little girl is wrong!
I will never understand how so many people in public and Hollywood defend this man. It’s not like he is wanted for tax evasion or speeding tickets. He drugged and raped a 13 year old child. He deserves to spend more than 42 days in jail for that and the fact that he is rich and talented does not negate that.
Hey wow … the point to “drop” this is when he’s been held fully accountable for drugging and raping a child.
I don’t care if the girl, who he did this to, wants the matter swept under the carpet. THIS GUY DRUGGED & RAPED A CHILD (he did not merely “have sex” with a teen”).
Samantha sued and won a civil suit against Polanski.
Polanski pled guilty to a felony, hoping for probation only.
Why should he be the exception and be excused from felony rape, because he fled.
I’m glad he fled simply because he got to made The Pianist and I got to sit in the cinema and watch. It ranks on a short list of life changing films.
But the guys caught and now he needs to face his punishment.
This will turn into an international diplomatic thing though as both the French and the Polish goverments aren’t going to take too kindly to it.
Okay, I am by no means defending a rapist. BUT. He made a plea, he upheld his end of the plea (psychiatric evaluation)and then it looked as though the judge would no longer honour the plea.
Over and over again people get incredibly short sentences that do not seem to fit the seriousness of that crime. Do I think he deserved more than a psychiatric evaluation? Of course. But the point is that was agreed upon and that’s what he did. The judge can’t suddenly want a little extra PR and decide to increase the terms of his sentencing.
Look, he lived a lot freer than any other rapist out there, so now it is time for him to be a man and pay for the crime he comitted. Great film maker or not, he raped a 13 year old and PLED GUILTY to it, and then fled the U.S. Had he manned up al those years ago, he wouldn’t be in the position he is today. He would have served his time and the rape would be behind him. Now he has to pay in the latter years of his life. Too bad, but don’t do the crime if you don’t want to end up doing the time.
What’s been interesting to me, with this suddenly becoming news again, is how little people actually understand about the case – it seems to have passed into our culture as a case of a horny director in the permissive 1970s sleeping with a willing groupie, and being charged with statutory rape but not having really done anything THAT bad. The people I’ve spoken to are genuinely horrified when they find out more of the details.
What’s more horrifying is the reaction of the French Minister of Culture, acting outraged that Polanski might be extradited. I’m not part of the hang-Polanski brigade but I do think for a politician to react against the arrest of a fugitive who pled guilty to a sex crime is bizarre and insulting, to say the least, to any victims of sexual abuse. I don’t care how good his films are or how fine an artist you think he is, he should be held accountable.
The warrant exists, it’s a legal arrest, let him be extradited and let the courts decide.
One fun fact to remind people who defend this creep – it wasn’t just rape, it was ANAL RAPE. Repeatedly.
It should be dropped? Why? Has he served his debt to society? He was convicted of a crime and hed fled the country to avoid jail time.
I don’t think he will serve time for the crime he pled guilty to, but I sure hope they nail him for fleeing the country to avoid serving time.
Let this be a lesson to the next perv who tries to rape someone and flees this country to avoid prosecution.
Also, HE PLED GUILTY! There is nothing for the courts to decide! He fled the country AFTER he pled GUILTY folks!
For those that also say some know so little about the case, well I have read much about the case, including the fact that the girl had been sexually active prior to Polanski, that she had used cocaine and alcohol, and that she has since said the matter should be put to rest. Those things do NOT change my opinion that he needs to serve his time. HE ADMITTED GUILT,HE LEFT THE COUNTRY TO AVOID BEING PUNISHED. There is nothing for the courts to decide, other than what prison he should go to.
Wake up people, sex with a 13 yr old, no matter what her past actions are, is RAPE! Statutory at the very least, not to mention that a 43 year old having sex with a 13 year old is PEDOPHILIA! I am so amazed by the amount of people on various sites who don’t understand that he is a pedophile, he plied her with alcohol and quaaludes, and she was UNDER AGE, and not by a year or two.
Just because he is a good director of some good films does not mean he should be given a pass. So many would be disgusted if it were ANYONE else, and calling for their heads on a platter, but somehow people think that because it is Polanski, and he had a hard life, and this case is old, it should be dropped. It shouldn’t be, he committed a crime and admitted guilt in that crime, he needs to serve his time, plain and simple!
Making no commentary whatsoever on the charges against him, I have to say it IS weird that he’s been to Switzerland before and wasn’t arrested or harassed, then gets invited to accept a special award and arrested the instant he steps into the country. That sounds a lot like entrapment, which might hurt their ability to prosecute.
Question: I’m not American; is there a statute of limitations for statutory rape?
victimizing the victim…again.
HE PLED GUILTY and fled. He has already been prosecuted AND given his sentence,
@Princess Pea- He has already be convicted of the crime. The prosecuting Atty. for the case and Polannski and his lawyers came to a plea agreement, where he admitted guilt to the crime in exchange for reduced charges. He has been convicted. He fled the country before they could incarcerate him.
He admitted to what he did and he was to be punished for it. There was no trial set because he made a plea agreement.
I think I read elsewhere that they managed to catch him in Switzerland this time because they knew ahead of time that he was coming, and they’ve been cracking down in recent years, as most countries have been doing.
I think he needs to serve whatever remains on the rest of his sentence, and then also answer for fleeing the country. I don’t care who he is – anyone who breaks the law like that has to deal with the consequences.
I feel bad for the victim that she’ll have to deal with all the publicity again, but Polanski is the one who has dragged this out for over 30 years – as if what he originally did to her wasn’t bad enough.
To answer the question of statute of limitations (which doesn’t apply to Polanski as he’s already pled guilty).
There is a statute of limitations … had Polanksi not had pled guilty he still wouldn’t escape the via statute of limitations.
That is due to “Father Porter’ing” -this is when the accused has left the state where the crime was committed -the time frame freezes and holds, and only resumes when the defendant/accused is back in the state where the crime occured.
Example … if a person/child is raped in Florida and the accused leaves for Texas, Idaho (wherever) -the time the accused is absent from the state where the crime occured (Florida) does not count.
So, if Polanski left (California or wherever this occured) and has not been back for even 60 years, then goes back (to California) -the statute of limitations will pick back up at that point specifically (having stopped immediately when he left California).
I have used this (Father Porter’ing) in a case just a little over a year ago -and it’s a Godsend for victims, especially for children coming forward as adults. (BTW, this was a case where the crime committed was in 1971).
I’m glad to see the responses here. On Huff Post people are ridiculous saying they should drop the case. He raped and sodomized a 13 year old AFTER drugging her. He’s a D-bag and he should serve his time.
I heard this story many years ago. Since then I refused to watch a single Roman Polanksi film. That includes the Piano. I put my money where my mouth is. I will not support this fugitive child rapist no matter how talented people think he is.
Regardless of his director abilities (I too enjoy many of his movies) and how old the case is, he should still be treated the same as any other scumbag pedo-rapist and should accept responsibility for actions he’s already admitted to. Man up and face reality. He made his choices in life, and should now pay the consequences just as any other person would. After all, if the shoe fits…
I’m glad it’s never been dropped. I’m glad he will forever be branded. I’m glad he’s finally been arrested.
So many cases of Hollywood gone wild. A child molester should never, ever, ever be let off the hook. Shame on him. To drug and rape a child. Shame on him! He should be castrated and left with big Bubba in a 3×5 cell, without lube! Shame on him for running away.
Shame on her family for leaving her alone with 2 notorious old pervs. Shame on anyone thinking it’s been long enough, let it go. Shame on his wife for having children with him. Shame on his friends for defending him, helping him or supporting him. Morals people. MORALS!
He drugged and raped a child. A CHILD!!
He was an adult who drugged and raped a 13 year old child and should be punished for this and for fleeing the country instead of being applauded for his film work. How would he/you feel if some man drugged and raped one of his/your kids?
Let’s see, he drugged and raped a child, then he skipped out of the country to avoid paying for his crime… I don’t care how ‘talented’ he is, his a$$ belongs in jail.
He raped a 13 year old girl! And now some big players in Hollywood are supporting this criminal. How sickening. He plead guilty and should serve his time.
What about the man that raped Jaycee Duggard? Will he plead guilty, escape to France and get away with it for 30 years…will Hollywood support that too? THEY ARE BOTH RAPISTS AND NEED TO BE PUNISHED!
Thank God for Celebitchy commenters because I was seriously starting to despair for humanity and all the pedo rape apologists!
she also said that she wanted to sleep with him, she said that several times.
About damn time too.
*Insert obligatory self-righteous comment to show disgust here*
Hmm… What’s the statute of limitations for sexual assault of a minor? Does it differ from state to state?
I’m just curious since so many years have passed since the crime was committed.
Sorry folks, just saw that my question has already been asked and answered. Facepalm!
At this point I believe he should have been punished. However he made a plea agreement and served the time set forth, then the judge decides to change it-that is not justice either. And at the same time the girl obviously doesn’t want these things brought back up so leave well enough alone.
I am in no way advocating for rapists-especially not statutory cases, but I also believe that if the courts cannot be held accountable for their actions how can any of us trust it? HE served the time he agreed to, you can’t just go back and make him serve more time after the fact. That’s what why I think it should be thrown out.
While I agree with what you guys are saying, have you seen the Sharon Tate crime scene photos? Suffice to say I think that man had to be royally screwed up in the head at the time, and even now.
A plea agreement is made by the defense and prosecution -it is never guaranteed and nor is it binding to the judge it’s presented to. It (a plea agreement/bargain) is just a recommendation (and never binding/or overiding a judge’s final disposition).
Polanksi was never “ripped off”, the judge in the matter, after the submission of facts, merely decided that what the prosecution and defense agreed to/upon was not fitting.
Jarkko,
While those photos were horrific, and he suffered terribly, that is not a valid or related excuse for what he did 8 years later. Being the loved one of a victim of a terrible crime does not mean that you are above the law and may commit an unspeakable crime yourself. He drugged and raped a child. Is that OK under any circumstances? I don’t think so.
Everyone who rapes a child is royally screwed in some way – but not everyone whose life is screwed up rapes children.
So: No “Get out of Jail Free” card from me for having such a hard life!
Sorry, but he doesn’t get a pass because his wife was brutally murdered. He was no saint in his marriage to Sharon Tate, as it was widely known that he was cheating on her with their good friend Michelle Phillips at the time.
There are many men who have had their wives raped and murdered and they don’t go and turn to 13 year olds to dull their pain. He gets no sympathy or pass from me on that!
@ Ihua.
What does it matter that she “asked for it”? To repeat, yet again, THE VICTIM WAS A DRUGGED CHILD.
There simply is no excuse.
I’m wondering why he was arrested this time (not saying that he shouldn’t be) in Switzerland, since he’s been there plenty of times, I believe he even has a house there.
I was almost scared to read the comments to this post, so many people have said “Oh it was so long ago, why not just drop it?” Thank goodness the majority of posters here feel the same way I do. This was a sickening rape that deserves a fitting punishment, no matter how many years have passed.
I am glad that the victim has herself dealt and come to terms with it but now the LAW has to deal with it. I have never understood how somehow it has just been ok for him to live this lovely life in France with family and friends backing him when he had committed such a horrible crime. Not to mention still having a successful career!
I hope he’s put away for the rest of his miserable life!
I do normally try to separate a person’s sexual foibles from their work. But there are two cases, (this and to a lesser extent Sinatra) that I just can’t.
I read about this case when I was a similar age to the victim (around 15/16) in a book on Hollywood sex-lives and found it one of the most disturbing things I’ve read to date. As others have said, he drugged and repeatedly had vaginal and anal sex with a girl who was too young and too drugged up to be able to give her consent. That is rape. He also admitted it and was convicted and charged. He then skipped off to Europe for himself. He did the crime, he must do the time.
I think Popcorny and others can correct me, but as far as I’m aware, in criminal prosecutions, it doesn’t matter a damn what the victim wants – it’s the state that brings charges against the accused. THe victim is a witness at best in the state’s case.
As regards why now – Switzerland elected a rightwing government in the last few years who are presumably cracking down on crime. This is in line with EU policies on the same, with which the Swiss government is closely aligned. I also believe that the parents of a rape/murder victim Manuela Riedo are campaigning on behalf of rape victims in their country, so this would have popular grass-roots appeal also.
I am so glad the ladies of this forum have written the comments above. It has turned my stomach for most of today reading NYtimes, HuffPo, and others who’s commenters seem to focus on the fact that “he’s so talented and a tortured artist therefore he should be given a moral carte blanche”. Or another one was along the lines of “he’s suffered enough by being exiled from those who adore him in Hollywood, and wasn’t even allowed to accept his Oscar. Because of this, he has paid for his crime”. Please. He ran as soon as he could. And not being able to come to LA and collect an award does NOT equal harsh treatment
I swear, other sites have shocking comments that make me wonder WTF is wrong with people today.
If he wasn’t who he is, people would be screaming for a public lynching, but because it is a talented director and tortured soul and because it happened back in the 1970’s, it now shouldn’t matter and he should be free to live his life.
I drove drunk once, was caught and punished. I was drunk because I had a “bad” situation going on. Did I deserve to be treated with kid gloves because I had some terrible thing going on in my life? F*** NO! I deserved the punishment I got, and for a first time offender, never in trouble, I was punished big time, 3 years probation, 4o hours community service, alocohol classes, license suspended for 6 months, had to get an SR-22 which costs a bundle, fines of over $1500, donation to MAAD, and I had to pay an attorney several thousand to get me the sweet deal that I got. My point is, just beacuse we go through situations, does not excuse us from being responsible adults and functioning within the law. He raped a 13 yr old, he knew it was wrong, but he did it and knowingly ran from his punishment. I got behind the wheel of a car, under the influence, knowingly, and I paid the price. You simply don’t do things to make yourself feel better and hurt others or potentially hurt others in the process.
Yes, not only am I am opinionated poster with lots of typos, but a shameful DUI offender. : (
While I’m in no way suggesting that the victim in this case doesn’t know what’s best for herself, the plea to have the charges dismissed really should be taken with a grain of salt. Many victims old and young, plea with the courts to allow their abusers etc to come home because they’re better now or said they were sorry or because other people need him home or what not.
As for “why now”…the purpose of sentencing is not only punitive, or to seperate the offender from society, it is also to set an example to others and publicly denounce the behaviour, for deterrence to others, and to acknowledge the harm done to victims to them, and maybe to others who’ve been similarly victimized.
What’s the political climate like in Switzerland right now? Is there a recent strengthening of penalities for sex offenders ? Any other high profile cases there? That might also have something to do with “why now”.
“Yes, not only am I am opinionated poster with lots of typos, but a shameful DUI offender. : (”
You owned up to it and then did your time and sentence. You grew.
Roman didn’t and it is the perfect reason I hate Hollywood actors and actresses the way I do. “Art” is no excuse for being sick in the head for rape. Hollywood people have gotten away with too much for too long. Artist my ass! He deserves the worst and should get the worst. His wife was killed, but that doesn’t mean that he didn’t have another chance to do well and do the right thing.
You lay a hand on an innocent child, you deserve the worst. Even if she was screwing around that doesn’t make it right. The victim has no say in whether or not he will be prosecuted. As for Nicholson, I wonder if he might get charged for providing a place for ROman to conduct the assault. Rape is rape and there’s NEVER ANY excuse. No woman asks for it.
These stupid Europeans don’t get it that artists are human too and there is no excuse. I don’t care if he fucking cured cancer, no excuse and he deserves to be arrested. These Hollywood people, as I wrote before, have gotten away with too much for far too long. Let’s start with him and start cracking down on the scum who have run roughshod over the law and citzenry for too long.
ABOUT FREAKING TIME! I knew he’d slip up.
I haven’t read through all of the posts here, but Sokota, I agree with a lot of what you just posted. And I’m still wondering why Woody Allen wasn’t jailed back in the day.
You’re right, Mairead, the state assumes the prosecution regardless of the victim’s desires to charge and/or prosecute.
People are shocked at other’s (France, Hollywood & fans) dismissive attitudes about this crime. I’m not. 2 words: Michael Jackson.
If Michael were offered a 42 day sentence, he would’ve grabbed it. There was an abundance of evidence and witnesses but humanity, common sense and compassion were tossed to the wind before the almighty “talented genius” that was (not) Michael Jackson.
Nobody wanted their profits and/or cherished memories of by-gone past music hits to be disturbed so, collectively, the mob mentality sought desperately to discredit the many little boys who were molested and described, in detail, Michael Jackson’s erect penis right down to the mole(s).
No, I’m not shocked that France, fans and colleagues are now sippin’ “Jesus Juice”. Disgusted, but not shocked.
Wow: And I’m still wondering why Woody Allen wasn’t jailed back in the day.
Because Sun-yin was 18 at the time. Big difference. What Woody did was morally reprehensible, but not illegal.
The fact is he pled guilty and then basically ran away. He is obviously guilty of his crime and I’m glad the rape victim was able to move on with her life. I know there was some kind of settlement but doesn’t Polanski still have to stand trial? I feel awful for his wife and his chilren but he needs to go on trial and get this over with. Did he really think he would never get caught if he left France?
I thought that there were allegations of sexual inappropriatness agaist WA for younger children (of Mia Farrow’s) also and not just Sun-Yi. I don’t know how credible they are or anything but I seem to remember the allegation being made.
Just shows you can’t run forever, time to pay the piper.
“If I had killed somebody, it wouldn’t have had so much appeal to the press, you see? But… f—ing, you see, and the young girls. Judges want to f— young girls. Juries want to f— young girls. Everyone wants to f— young girls!”
Roman Polanski said this 30 years ago.
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/michaeldeacon/100011795/roman-polanski-everyone-else-fancies-little-girls-too/
A Jesuit priest wonders, what if it were Father Polanski who’d raped a kid? “Entertainment, not religion, is the new opiate of the people and we don’t want our supply disturbed.”
http://blogs.abcnews.com/theworldnewser/2009/09/father-polanski-would-go-to-jail-says-jesuit.html
There is no excusing this pig’s actions.
Let me get this straight? Basically some people and a lot of French and Polish people are saying it is okay to let a sexual predator of children run around unchecked and forgiven and if he makes $$$ then it is okay? Even an idiot knows pedophiles can’t be cured but the French and the Poles are not protecting their children, but the US will not turn a blind eye and will protect their children. In case you are wondering. There was also another victim of Polanski, at 15 years old that time. Her name is Nastassja Kinski and you can link to her wiki page through Polanski’s. Go ahead. Look at what she said and look at the time line. The US courts saved a lot of young girls from this creep but they couldn’t save the young German. Go look on her page. The nude girl with the boa. You know the poster.
To Twinkle Toes, and others who think that the French are all supportive of Roman Polanski, let me tell you that it is really far from being the truth. I am French, living in France, and I can tell you that more that 95% of us are as shocked as you all, and we are all the more disgusted that our so-called “elite” actually support Roman Polanski, from our President to many prominent political and cultural figures. Basically, they are telling us that we are too dumb to understand that a great artist like Polanski can do no wrong, and what he did is beyond our poor understanding, and that his arrestation shows us the side of the “scary America”(quote by our State Secretary of Culture) we are supposed not to like.
Excuse me, but I am not scared of America, nor my fellow countrymen and women are. We are rather scared of those so-called superior people who govern us. I’m also very disappointed that Woody Allen, Martin Scorsese, and David Lynch share their position by signing a petition against Polanski’s arrestation.
Lennie, add Tilda Swinton and Monica Bellucci to that list…it truly is disturbing
@Lennie
Thank you for that. I am happy to hear confirmation that not all French citizens feel that Polanski should continue to walk. I had assumed as much.
But as the illustrious Whoopie Goldberg says”this is,nt rape,rape, just statuatory rape” Oh really Asshole?