Judge orders Roman Polanski to return to US for trial.

[Statistical]

A judge has rejected director Roman Polanski's bid to be sentenced in absentia in a three-decade-old child-sex case.
Judge Peter Espinoza ruled that Polanski, 76, will have to come back Los Angeles to be sentenced.

"I have made it clear he needs to surrender," the judge said.
Polanski's attorneys said they would appeal.

The famed film director is under house arrest in Switzerland, where he is waiting to learn whether the Swiss government will extradite him to the U.S. to face sentencing for having sex with a 13-year-old girl.

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http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/01/roman-polanski-bid-to-be-sentenced-in-absentia-rejected-by-judge-in-child-sex-case-samantha-geimer.html

[Amerigo Vespucci]

1. He drugged and sodomized a 13 year old girl.

Bring him back, let him stand trial. That is all.

:patriot:

[paulsby]

2. i love how they put it...

"for having sex with"

as you say, he didn't merely have sex with her, it wasn't remotely consensual (with the understanding that a 13 yr old can't (in most jurisdictions) legally consent).

he DRUGGED her
he had sex with her AGAINST her will

he didn't merely schtup a "willing" 13 yr old, which would still be criminal of course.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

19. No trial needed, he pled guilty. He ran befopre sentence was imposed

[tango-tee]

44. Exactly, that's it.

All the pissing and moaning by various "celebrities" about him being such a gifted artist is irrelevant. If someone riding the garbage truck had been found guilty of this crime, not once ounce of printer's ink would have been used in his defense.

[tmyers09]

3. It's sad that just for saying this, I'll somehow be a rape apologist, or something to that effect...

But let it rest already. I guess the victim's rights don't make a difference, because she wanted this to be done with. Sure, maybe the money she got paid had some influence on that. But still, her views should be respected. He's like 76 years old, and obviously not going to do something like this again. Instead of wasting taxpayer money putting him in jail and such, just give him house arrest or something. What he did was clearly wrong, and should never be acceptable. But let it go. There's no point anymore, except so that they can meaninglessly say, "justice is done".

[Pryderi]

4. Using your logic, then neither Bush nor Cheney should be prosecuted for war crimes because they

can't do it again.

[Pithlet]

5. Exactly. n/t

[tmyers09]

6. You do make a good point.

I don't know. Clearly what those fuckers did is still permeating throughout our country. But with this, it's one person, and that person wants to move on and let this die. I'm just not sure there's any point in jailing him now. In the mid-1980's? Absolutely. But in 2010? It doesn't accomplish anything. I don't care either way, I've never seen any of his films, I have no emotional connection to him, so whatever happens, happens.

[dysfunctional press]

18. so- how long do you have to elude capture before police should just give up...?

that is- at what point should punishment for a crime officially become a non-issue?
:shrug:

[roguevalley]

one person. this will be in her family for generations because things ripple.

also, if we excuse rapists because they elude justice for a number of years, there is no incentive to be good. I think it will accomplish what it is intended to accomplish, that even if you are wealthy and famous you are not immune from the consequences of what you do. you have to stand consequences for what you do.

[Maru Kitteh]

40. How many 13 year old girls should he have anally raped in order for it to count in your book?

[cherokeeprogressive]

58. Surely he never did it while living in Europe... right? Right? n/t

[WileEcoyote]

34. Isn't there a slight difference between the Bush/Cheney crimes and those of Polanski?

at least as a matter of scale?

I sense a kind of smack down men wherever possible here. Regardless of the circumstances, cost or outcome...

[Maru Kitteh]

41. Then you are taking it too personally and have missed the point entirely.

Read for comprehension.

[seabeyond]

8. they can say, just cause you have money does not mean you escape punishment.

better argument. not only justice done. not only because of the victim. it is that you cant run to another country and be protected for 30 yrs from prosecution

[tmyers09]

12. This is true. I think continued house arrest and more fines would be more appropriate.

Putting him in a general population jail opens doors to prisoners who might want to try and make themselves famous. And regardless of what somebody has done (except for realllllly extreme cases), I don't think anybody deserves to die.

[seabeyond]

20. dont do the crime you dont want the time.... i am not really concerned with him sittin

in jail. shouldnt feel he had the right to rape.

being as rich as he is, what is a mere fine for rape

and his ass still has to come back to u.s. for running away

[LeftyMom]

23. Nobody's going to put him in GenPop.

California does know how to handle celebrities, one or two have gone to prison before. And pedos don't go in GenPop anyhow, because they wind up dead. At his age he'd go in a senior or medical wing anyhow.

[cherokeeprogressive]

59. He might have pled guilty in CA, but his having fled makes it a federal crime.

I say put him in genpop in the worst of the federal system.

[Flaneur]

63. You don't know what you're talking about.

There are no federal charges. Polanski pleaded guilty under a plea bargain to state charges, then fled after the trial judge got pissed off at pictures of him in Europe and started making noises about sentencing him harshly--outside the terms of the plea bargain. He also did some pretrial time at Chino, I think it was, for a mental evaluation.

But your lust for vengeance is duly noted.

[cherokeeprogressive]

65. Cross a state line to avoid capture or prosecution and...

complete that for me, will ya?

Then tell me again that I don't know what I'm talking about.

Thanks in advance...

[Maru Kitteh]

42. Fine. Let him sit alone in JAIL then. Till he dies.

[Shell Beau]

9. And if the victim had wanted him to hang for this?

Those wishes should be honored too?

And justice should be done. He fucked a 13 year old CHILD!!! And by fucked, I meant raped because that is all it can be with a child. And I bet she wasn't the only one.

[tmyers09]

13. Ouch, that last sentence is pretty harsh.

Sure, he did it once, and sure, he's got a creeper look about him. But I dunno.

[Shell Beau]

14. So you assume she was the one and only?

I don't buy that for one minute.

Harsh is raping a child.

[tmyers09]

15. I would assume so.

People are innocent until proven guilty, and nobody else has stepped forward. Not every criminal has multiple victims, it very well could be that this is the one and only one.

[Shell Beau]

16. Could be, but he got away with this one for so long.

Yep, still not buying it, and if he didn't rape others, I won't feel too guilty for saying that because what he did to a 13 year old child pretty much took away any respect for decency one could have.

[tmyers09]

17. Good point. The doubt will always be there.

And because of previous actions, doubt will be justified. :)

[seabeyond]

21. he already took the plea bargain, so guilty. he ran from sentencing

and a majority of rapes arent reported so that oesnt say much. especially the younger raped less likely those would be reported. this 13 yr old would not have reported it either. her mom got wind of it and that is why something was done. predators go after the kids for a reason

[cherokeeprogressive]

60. My sawbuck says she wasn't even the FIRST. n/t

[pennylane100]

22. So if a victim of a convicted rapist wanted his balls cut off,

using your logic, that would be worth considering, after all its what she wants.

I know the victim's rights are important, but so are the rights of future victims. We cannot allow a situation where justice is not served, because a person has money and fame or there will never be justice for poor people.

He did the crime, now let him do the time.

[struggle4progress]

30. The victim doesn't need to be involved further. He pleaded guilty. Only sentencing remains.

The victim is tired of being associated with the case, so let's just stop bringing her into it

[cherokeeprogressive]

57. His guilty plea came at a time when she was younger than the age of majority.

She wasn't legally able to consent to his sticking his penis in her rectum when it happened, sober, OR under the drugs and alcohol that he plied her with.

The law doesn't apply to the NOW, the law applies to the THEN. Her current views are irrelevent in the eyes of the law.

Bring him back to the states, and place him in GENPOP to serve out the remainder of the sentence he fled the country to avoid.

[Shell Beau]

7. He is a rapist, and even if the victim doesn't want this, I am all for it.

Because what he did was wrong, and if we let the victims decide the punishment (if any at all), then we are far away from justice. We would no more let a victim decide the death of their abuser, so, even though I feel for his victim and appreciate her opinion here, she doesn't get to decide. He should be in jail like all other rapists should be. And I will just guess here (and yes, it is just a guess), she wasn't the first or last.

[madokie]

10. burn his ass

raped a 13 year old. say no more

[Odin2005]

11. Thown that monster in jail for the rest of his life.

[Name removed]

35. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Leftist Agitator]

46. Should all rapists be imprisoned for life?

Please, do tell.

[aikoaiko]

24. Its really very simple: He needs to be sentenced for the crime he pled guilty to.

Welcome back to the USA Roman.

[TorchTheWitch]

25. he also needs to be punished for fleeing

and evading the law all these years.

[aikoaiko]

26. there is that matter as well.

[depakid]

33. Punish- punish - punish

Life in prison wouldn't be enough for some folks here.

Seriously- some people's unending lust for vengeance and violent retribution makes them sicker than Polanski.

[cali]

38. makes them sicker than Polanski?

so posting angry shit on DU is worse than child rape? OK. got it.

[anonymous171]

50. Rape and a desire for justice are not morally equivalent.

Just so you know.

[Shell Beau]

52. You're damn straight. When it comes to the innocence of a child

being ripped away because some sick fuck wants to get his jollies.... He did the crime, his rich ass can do the time MANY MANY years later.

[cherokeeprogressive]

62. Hypnotize him, make him think he was 13 years old, and put him in a situation he's uncomfortable

with. Then bring in someone who weighs twice or maybe three times what he does, and let them fuck him in the ass. TWICE.

Let him live with THAT for the rest of his shitty life, behind bars in solitary confinement with a pistol and a cap of cyanide at his disposal.

[Name removed]

64. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[cherokeeprogressive]

66. That might be the first time in my life I've been called "pretty".

Not sure how to take that...

I kinda like it. But then I kinda don't.

One wonders how many underage rectums Mr. Polanski has plundered in the last thirty years... with the aid of alcohol and drugs and the acceptance of parents who needed a few bucks...

[proteus_lives]

67. So child-rape isn't a big deal in Oz?

I remember from past Polanski threads that's it's not a big deal to you.

[proteus_lives]

27. Enjoy prison pervert.

You can make a movie out of it once you get out.

[barb162]

28. Good, let him get his trial for fleeing and do his time. The little pipsqueak

can rape young kids, hope he has a great time in jail.

[tammywammy]

29. He already pled guilty

They should just tack on more time for fleeing before his sentencing.

[barb162]

36. Yes n/t

[tammywammy]

37. Sorry, I misread your post the first time around. I missed the "for fleeing." n/t

[Frank Booth]

31. It's hard to have any sympathy for a man who drugged and sodomized a 13 year old girl.

[tammywammy]

32. But, but, but, he makes MOVIES!!!

Apparently to some, his art makes him above this and he should be released. Sad to see some people defending a child rapist on a democratic board.

[Maru Kitteh]

39. He did not "have sex" with a 13 year old girl. He RAPED a 13 year-old girl.

vomit

[Name removed]

45. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Monk06]

43. If anyone bothered to read the article: the judges ruling is based on a law passed in 2008

Called Marcy's law that allows victims the right
to reasonably confer with a prosecuting agency
in the extradition of defendants in sex crime
cases

The victim, Samantha Geimer has refused to reply to
the requests of the LA District Attorney's office in
this case. Not surprising she accepted a $500,000.00
settlement in the case.

IE the case is settled according to Samantha Geimer
the Repug LADA office just wants to make headlines
for political reasons.

[Statistical]

47. Lots of latitude in "reasonably confer"

The law doesn't say if the victim got paid off then criminal goes free.

In criminal cases it is not the victim vs. the criminal. It is the state vs. the criminal. The victim is important element but not the only element.

The risk to society (not just the victim) is a deciding factor.

[Monk06]

53. Yeah Polanski is a risk to (US) society as a 73 yro man living in France for the last thirty years.

This case was settled thirty years ago when
the victim settled out of court.

America hasn't evolved beyond it's Puritan
roots in 200 years in spite of being the
child pornography capital of the world.

Russian hosting companies make billions
off AMERICAN internet pervs.

Oh and for the record I think Polanski is
emotionally retarded and any mother who
sends her daughter to do a nude photo shoot
with him is a pimp. Which is why this case
never went to court thirty years ago.

[seabeyond]

54. self deleted cause of all the wrong in your post.... too much work. nt

[Monk06]

55. Go back to the original court case and tell me what I have wrong. Natassia Kinskl

had an 'affair' with Polanski when she was fifteen
She went on to star in Cat People and Tess. Why didn't
Natassia charge Polanski with rape smart ass?

Truth is you probably weren't even born until 1980
so you know nothing about what was going on at the
time this case went to court: when the RW were accusing
Polanski of being responsible for Sharon Tate's murder.

Charlie Manson = Roman Polanski was the meme of the day.

And mothers and fathers have been selling their daughters to Hollywood
producers and directors since the 1920's.

And most recently Scott Brown tells the world that his daughters are
available.

[Monk06]

61. What ten minutes on Google is too much work for you? Thanks for the input

[anonymous171]

49. Oh yes, those evil republicans and their desire to see child rapists brought to justice

:sarcasm: This is not a partisan issue. This is about child rape. IF Polanski was poor he would probably still be in jail.

[Prophet 451]

48. Polanski is a brilliant director

Doesn't stop him being a really lousy excuse for a human being. Some believe that Polanski's work will be forever tainted now. Personally, I take the view that you have to seperate the art from the artist.

Polanski the artist was a visionary director. Polanski the person is a rapist and needs to be brought back to the USA, sentanced and made to serve his time. The court can and probably will add a couple of additional charges for his extended flight from justice, just as would happen to any of us if we committed the same crime.

[Warren DeMontague]

51. No one should cover up for child abusers, apologize for them, or help them escape justice.

No one.

[davidpdx]

56. Sadly this is going to turn into a circus as all celebrity trials do

If he accepted the terms of the deal, then they should sentence him and add a charge of fleeing prosecution (or whatever it's called in California). Hold the trial for that (it's pretty damn straight forward) and then sentence him to prison and be done with it quickly. Let him serve his time and then release him.

Unfortunately it's going to happen that way. This will be dragged through the mud for a year more before anything happens.