Oh I hope that they extradite Polanski, prosecute him and sling his butt in jail where he belongs! He is a child molester plain and simple regardless of how famous or how much money he has!! He did the crime now he must do the time!!

It's sad to hear that once again another Chicago kid is killed for nothing. You would think after all of this time they would have a handle on this problem. But I guess not!

Cindy..Ga.

I think Polanski will fight extradition and whether he is successful in his fight will depend on how much his country backs him up. It would be good to get this case settled because each time it comes up the victim probably feels like she is being victimized again by having to dredge through those memories.

this man needs to be held acountable for what he has done! why should a director be let off when a mere mortal like everyone else would pay the price? money and fame should not have any say in justice. if it does, then our system has gone to hell!

i feel sorry for the victim but i still think he should face his crimes instead of running. the years that have passed should not matter, how many other young girls did he do this too? he is still capable of doing it to others as well.

30 years dats just ridiculous he shouldve been extradited years ago he is a pig...

As in any other assault case, the victim isn't the one who says Aye or Nay on the charges against a perpetrator, I believe that's decided by a judge and sometimes a jury of peers.
A person in any other social standing would've been hunted down long before now. Regardless of the victim's discomfort this man should not get away with what he did, including evading arrest, fleeing the country and bargaining in bad faith to be added to the original list of charges that Polanski admitted to.

He deserves the same punishment that anyone else would

receive.No exceptions. I don,t believe in double standard.

It is utterly amazing that one of his supporters thinks he shouldn't go to jail for "one little mistake". EXCUSE ME? Since when did rape qualify as one LITTLE mistake! This type of case destroys other's confidence in the legal system and their ability to prosecute guys like this. It demeans and belittles everyone as long as this "human being" is allowed to be free. I believe in justice and mercy. There must be consequences for what he has done. If and when he pays his debt then may God have mercy on his soul.

I am a bit shocked that the victim thinks the charges should be
dropped. I wonder, had she not gotten a monetary settlement,
if she would still feel this way. I think not ! He plead guilty and
its now time to pay the piper. And as far as people like Debra
Winger and others supporting him, they are a disgrace to the
human race.

At his age, most likely he would not be able to live long enough
to serve his sentence, so I think the judge should set a presendent
and make one of his two children serve out the remainder of what
he cant. Lets see how he likes his child victimized !

Mr. Polanski drugged & raped a child; and needs to atone for his crimes no matter how many years have lapsed.

The plaintiff is the State of California and I don't believe Ms. Geimer has the authority to speak in behalf of the state.

Since charges were previously levied, there would be no testimony by Ms. Geimer.
Mr. Polanski, and Mr. Polanski alone, is responsible for the ongoing horrors that are still being inflicted on Ms. Geimer.
He should have manned up and paid the piper thirty two years ago.

Since California is in dire straits, Mr. Polanski should have to pick up the prosecution's tab.
As a country we should never tolerate pedophilia.

If you do the crime, you gotta do the time.

Mr. Polanski has shown to be a coward, who knew he was guilty. Not to be rude, but how many Mothers would leave a 13 year-old with a man alone, for a "photo" shoot?

I am a bit shocked that the victim thinks the charges should be
dropped.
======================
I don't think that's very surprising. She and her family have been victimized all over again each time over the last 30 years that this issue has hit the press, and had all the salacious details gone into. She's wanted it over for a long time. Dismissing the case was one way to make it be over. Now that he's captured, actually putting him on trial would be another way.

I don't believe for one minute that this was the only girl that this pervert raped. She was only 13 years old and he was 43! He drugged her and raped her and he should be brought to the US and put in jail for the rest of his life. Anyone who doesn't understand this is pathetic.

So, if you are a 'gifted director' it is okay to rape and sodomize a child?
That is the message that the defenders of the rapist are sending.

I am father of a 13-year old daughter. I will tear a man apart with my bear hands for a crime that this dispicable man committed. He should be put away for life.

I don't care how good your movies are, creative ability doesn't place you above the law. What is so troubling to me is that everyone seems to say "poor Roman, he's such a good director" why is that an excuse to evade due process. If he didn't do it, he shouldn't have pled that he did.

Mr. Polanski has had it way too easy over the past three decades as a U.S. fugitive, it would have been a whole lot more devastating to any other individual. The reactions of his accuser now are expected to be totally different as she was a kid before and because of this, I personally believe that Mr. Polanski should be successfully extradited back to the U.S. to face up to his charges.

He comitted the crime, regardless of the elspsation factor, he needs to face the judicial system and perhaps even do the time !

I don't really care what happens to him, but why would Steve Cooley (the LA DA) want to drag the victim (and her family) through this all over again.

Roman Polanski should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. I don't care how many years it has been or how old he is now. His life's accomplishments should certainly not overshadow the fact that he is a pedophile and exploited a 13 year old girl. She may say she has forgiven him and I hope she has. But you can't tell me that her life was not forever changed the day this monster took advantage of her. And, who knows how many others out there are afraid to come forward because predators like this get off Scott free?

I hope that everyone pays attention to the celebrities and hollywood crowd that have rallied around this man and boycott every tv show, movie or other production they are involved with. talk with your money and let them know not only do we find what he did reprehensible, we find their support of him reprehensible. first on the list is debra winger with her little speech in switzerland yesterday.

Everyone needs to review the documentary to see what happened and why Roman Polanski lost all faith in the US justice system. He was not treated fairly. A judge has the right to refuse to accept the plea bargain. In this case, the judge urged the parties to settle but chose to refuse it because he worried about the press in the case and didn't want to hurt his reputation (this was after the judge sent him into prison for 45 days for a psychiatric assessment on the understanding that Mr. Polanski would not do more time than that). I agree that what he did was terrible (although in France, where he was born, the age of consent is very low so he may not have thought it as bad as we do). I don't think he knew her real age and the fact that her mother basically gave her to him (apparently because she hoped for an acting break) makes me feel that her mother is more culpable than Roman. I hope he succeeds in overturning the extradition order.

It's about time this guy was arrested and he should be extradited immediately. As for the victim??? Her opinion at this time does not matter as he pleaded guilty and then fled the country. He must be held accountably for all of his crimes just as every else would.

Disgusting animal.
If he isn't punished then what does that say about fairness in our society.

He is a disgusting individual.

Disclaimer: I'm a French citizen, raised there, educated there.

I'll go to bat just about any day to defend most French ideals. Most days, I'm fairly proud to be French, regardless of the questionable decisions the government and unions make. I have little respect for the trolls that bash things just because they're French without having the slightest clue.

On this, though, I'm thoroughly ashamed of being French. I'm ashamed of being European, as a matter of fact. I don't know if Polanski should be in jail. What I care is that people in Europe somehow believe he's worthy of special treatment, that he's been through "enough." Nonsense, all of that. The fact that politicians support someone accused of raping a teenager is appalling. Worse is the fact that, if he were anybody else, a regular John Doe, the governments in Europe would be praising the Swiss for arresting him and would be looking forward to justice being served.

Even if Polanski is proven innocent in the long run, even if he is, in fact, innocent, the support pouring out for him is disgusting. It's biased, it's elitist, and it's ridiculous. I don't condone the vindictive attitudes some people have towards him, but I can't, not even for a second, support anyone who feels he's been the victim of an injustice.

How ludicrous.

It's incredible that France has been giving a confessed child molester safe haven for all these years. How is that possible and why has the European Union allowed them to do so?

I have mixed feelings – it's been decades since the crime and apparently the victim has gotten over it. He's an elderly man, who was probably suffering from PTSD following the death of his wife and unborn child. If this was something that just happened, he should be prosecuted, but it seems a moot point now. I think they shouldn't waste time and money on a trial.

He drugged and raped a 13 year old girl, what is the time limit on "if you can't do the time, don't do the crime", and the victims concerns are not really valid, he committed a criminal act, it is with the state he will have his day in court, finally. Though I do understand her wish it would just go away. If he had faced up to it all in the first place this would be a non-issue. There are legal ways to go about rectifying one legal issues that don’t involve running from the law for three decades.

i think mr polansky already paid the price. leave him alone.
shame on switzerland , they financially raped a lot of people of every age. i will not throw the first stone if i was them

This is one of the most ridiculous cases and taxpayer money waste in this country ever.
As our foreign minister said: "There are times when we love America but there are times like this when America is really scary and out of line"
A French citizen

Polanski is no different of a human being than any of us and he should pay his guilt to society. I could care less what he did with film and directing and it was not a necessity in life.
He misused his directing and photographer title to rape a 13 year after drugging her. He drugged her because he is a coward, he raped her because he is a coward and he left this country never to come back because he knew he was guilty and that made him a coward and he is a coward today. I understand he forced anal sex also on her.
No one should let this man off the hook. He needs to serve the penalty for the crime he committed, he was a fugitive people.
It will be a very very sad day in justice if this man, like any other man is let go. Justice should be blind to all occupations and judge by facts alone.

Its not fair that a person who is has sex with a an underage women has to go through the whole legal system, serve his/her time in jail, attend sexual offenders classes (of which they must attend every week at a $100 per class) and be registered nationally as a sex offenders, cant obtain proper employment due to background checks, cant attend big universities due to the fact that the campus is notified of his or her background, and for the past 20+ years this guy has gotten off with out much of a fuss. and people still support him, If that is the case every sex offender should have the same support and chance that this guy has had.

Mr. Polanski broke the law. He act like a man and face the consequences of his actions.

No need to put him on trial. He's already pled guilty. He just fled the country before sentencing. And this wasn't consensual sex with a 13-year-old girl that got him in trouble. i.e. it was forcible rape.

Is everyone forgetting....Polanski, a 44 year old man, CONFESSED to the RAPE (oral, vaginal and sodomy) of a 13 year old child, after coaxing and intimidating her in to getting drunk (on Champagne) and giving her drugs (half a tablet of Qualude). These are not allegations, he has confessed to them. He then was not man enough to face punishment but fled like a common criminal. A 40 yr old Paedophile who intoxicates and sodomizes a 13 yr old child....everyone rising to his defense should have their heads examined.

Last I heard, laws are the same for all, or did someone write in a special law for Directors? Oh, that was probably a silly question, when you see the special treatment for crooks in Congress!

He pled guilty then ran of to france and lived his life like nothing happen he got justice to what happened to sharon tate and his unborn child how would he had felt if the manson's would have gone free... His fame and money shouldn't get him a get out of jail free card....

He molested a child. Fled the country to avoid prosecution because he knew what he did was wrong. He should be treated as such. I don't see any gray area here!!!!

my question about polanski's victim what was she doing @ the age
of 13 for photo shoot all by herself with polanski at some residence?!!!

polanski should b punished for wat he had done ......

If Roman Polanski sold tickets for movies instead of directing them, would we be having this discussion?
I think not!!

Same crime, same time, no matter who your friends are!!

Drop the charges! Polanski certainly doesn't deserve any of this. This makes the US justice system look like such a joke. Check out the facts, people, before making your judgements. I doubt that Switzerland would extradite him, but really now don't we have important stuff to worry about?

He should be jailed for what he has done. He also ran away from justice for doing so he should be sentence to life in prisonment.

Polanski, really? I bet the over 20 kids that have been killed in the POTUS home state of ILL, or their friends and famiies, dont even care about a 78 year old man who has been on the run since the 1970.

Although I'm a big fan of mr. Polanski's work (as a director and an actor) and I'm sorry for him that his wife Sharon Tate was brutally murdered almost 40 years ago, I believe he must face Justice as anyone else. And the quicker the better, as the victim and her family cannot bear being publicly exposed and victimized for the last 32 years anymore...

Listen to the victim

The victim has forgiven her aggressor and moved on. Why can't the rest of us? It appears that Polanski has learned his lesson; he has not repeated his crime, and he has lived his life with his movement severely restricted. He has paid a dire price for a heinous crime. What more do we want? Is jail time the only proper and adequate punishment? C'mon; let's move on. Let's get beyond the one track mind.

I agree with Taylor..."It is utterly amazing that one of his supporters thinks he shouldn’t go to jail for “one little mistake”.

I could not fathom this comment. The victim settled out of court but that does not mean laws were not broken and there is not statute of limitations on that. I also cannot believe that various world leaders are lobbying for this man's freedom. He is depraved and just because he is "artistic" and "talented" does not excuse his poor judgement. I also read that he has suffered because he cannot make films in Hollywood. Huh? He is still rich as all get out and staying at a private villa in Switzerland. Poor baby. His supporters are disgusting.

I am shocked with the previous comments that I read. Almost all of them are based on a simple "he is guilty and should serve time" assumption and pretty uninformed. The story is much more complex. He is certainly guilty of "something" – and one cannot probably say today whether it was drugging a 13-year old girl who looked 25 (as one witness put) or a consensual sex with her. He is clearly guilty of that. But as guilty as he is is the ridiculous judicial system and the judge who was seeking publicity. This is not by accident that the PROSECUTOR acknowledged that Polanski was mistreated by the judge. A foreigner, short, with a thick accent... A perfect material for "making a case" of him. To wrap it up, I believe that the law should be the same for the rich and famous as for the rest of us: neither more lenient or resembling witch-hunting.

I think the extradition will be blocked on some type of faux legal grounds long enough for the guy to get back into France.

Roman Polanski is very talented but not above the law, he should be brought to justice and sent to prison for the rest of his pathetic life, this is just inhumane

I shall be succinct: France sucks! I don't care if they DID give us the statue of liberty!!!

How many of you were there in the room with them? How many of you truly know what happen? I believe you all have the rite to comment and express your opinions on this curious violation of nature, but I think none of you have the rite to judge the man personally.

He should be forced to watch endless reels of his own crappy movies.

"The Academy Award-winning director"..."Child rapist sick freak of nature turned on by pubescent, drugged little girls rather than women" probably because of his "little man syndrome" probably – is how he should be seen.

I love this country. I spent 20 years serving in the military...but we have a major problem: We seem to be willing to give sports icons and hollywood moguls passes at all the wrong times. Why is this?

Three cheers for the authorities. There are consequences for criminal actions, and time does not diminish them.

I absolutely agree that money and fame shouldn't have any say in justice. Which is why Roman Polanski's case was such a miscarriage of justice, with both prosecution and defense in agreement for a moderate sentencing, but the judge mugging for the press trying to show that rich & famous will be punished for the crimes trying to lock up Polanski for the rest of his life. I don't blame him for running, with the options being either exile from America or being locked up by a judge more concerned with appearances than rule of law.

I do not think Polanski should be extradited. What many people don't understand is that Polanski's trial in the US is really the problem: Polanski was set to be sentenced with no jail time; however, a DA from a separate district interfered with the judicial process. The judge then recanted his agreement twenty-four hours (roughly) before sentencing and advised Polanski's lawyers that he will probably issue jail time (again, after an outside DA interfered.) In this case Polanski was abused by a judicial system. Had Polanski known that he would have been sentenced to a harsher sentence, perhaps he would have agreed. If you put yourselves in Polanski's position during his trial and you were informed that the judicial process isn't a fair process, then you might have ran away too.

It wasn't that shocking to me that Hollywood is speaking out on behalf of Polanski. Woody Allen is still hero-worshipped and he married his young stepdaughter. If you are talented and your work makes other people lots of money, you are permitted to get away with all sorts of things. Isn't it ironic that these same people were completely outraged that Michael Vick was reinstated after paying his debt to society? Seems to me that women sometimes have less status than dogs in this country.

He raped a thirteen year old girl and escaped prosecution for thirty years. He needs to be extradited and he needs to serve his time. Anyone who says otherwise is, for all intents and purposes, advocating for the molestation of children.

Roman should not go to jail. The judge at the time forced a strict sentence because he was famous. Plus he was lied to and served time in jail. If it just been reported the statute of limitations would have run out.

I agree with Rich, I'm not at all comfortable with thinking other artists find Polanski is justified by his status or wealth... Does that mean they are too, oh, is this a different world they live in?
Pulling down the veil of such games the rich and famous play, there are no secrets that won't be brought into the open!

I think it's appalling that someone can rape & drug a 13 year old girl, plead guilty & flee the law for this many years. Polanski has reaped many rewards for his successes & not once has looked back.. It really scares me that so many want to keep protecting him. Anyone else would have paid their time & he should not be held to any higher standards. This young girl has spent many years the victim when she doesn't deserve it. Stand up & take your punishment like a man & not like a coward...I will shed no tears for you!

As a liberal, latte-sipping, New York City resident who is part of the pop culture mafia, I respectfully decline to give this man a free pass due to his talent and I look upon those who defend him with disgust.

YA DO THE CRIME, YA DO THE TIME. Period.

The thing is, had he gone to prison like he should have in the 70s, he'd be a free man by now. Oh well, Roman. Too bad, so sad.

As I recall, this girl was presented as much older by a mother who wanted to further or start a career in film. Remember that was Hollywood where otherwise wonderful parents throw their children at film makers hoping to get in the spotlight.

I don't normally respond to blogs, but this is a very hot topic as evidenced by the responses listed. I have no sympathy for child molesters but circumstance should be considered. How did the girl get there – did her parents drop her off on the casting couch? This does not excuse his behavior as nor does the fact that this man who had to fend for himself since childhood – probably had his own demons. He should return and face his accuser and may they both shed light on a horrible tradgedy that still faces countless children every day and needs to be stopped.

Get over it! Who wasn't doing drugs and having sex in the early 70's. What do you think all these people who go to Thailand and Philippines do?

People have short memory spans. They tend to forgive and forget. Maybe their own human frailties play a part in the acceptance. I personally find it revolting and a gross misuse of their so called “power” status.
The spouse usually will suffer through it in silence and the children if any are probably emotionally scarred as well.
I guess people see that they are humans too and that they do make silly mistakes. We need to stop holding them on such high pedestals and understand they cook, eat, and do the same things we do. All Humans make mistakes.

The only question I have, is why now? Why are they trying to extradite Polanski now? Its been 30 years, and from what I've read the victim has forgiven him. So, why are they pushing to extradite and prosecute now? I think the best thing is to bring him back, and negotiate a plea bargin. It would be a tremdous waste of very limted resources to try to go to trial.

With all due respect, it's not all about the victim. She may have moved on but that doesn't mean that a pedophile should go free. Aren't the courts mandated to prosecute sex crimes against children?

i think he should go to jail and he should get more jail time for skipping this country

Surprising to me that 100% of the posts here utterly ignore the legal issue.

It is not whether he raped a 13-year old girl. That's a settled matter. He did, and admitted so himself when he plead guilty. Done deal. Ancient history. And oh yeah, BTW, his assertion that it was "consensual" is utterly irrelevant. 13 year olds cannot consent to sexual intercourse in any state in the union.

The issue is that he was convicted of a crime and then fled before sentencing. The issue is that he is a fugitive from justice. Could be rape, could be burglary, could be embezzlement – at this point, all exactly equal.

You cannot flee from justice. It makes a mockery of the law. Now he is captured and must be extradited so that we, the people, can enforce justice.

I read the first comment from Cindy and now I do not have to type as much.

She said it just right, "He is a child molester plain and simple".

If Polanski didn't feel he was getting a fair shake by the judge, he should have resolved that through the criminal justice system. He could have withdrawn his plea and taken a shot at court. If he felt the judge wasn't impartial, he could have appealed, perhaps even for a different venue.

Considering his age, maybe they could just prosecute him for fleeing the country? If that gave him the rest of his life in prison, that would be enough.

"i ran away because I thought the judge would give me a bad sentence" ... Polanski's in a 60 minute interview a year after he ran way. What a jerk! He pleaded guilty and then ran away – he's not innocent. Does he deserve 50 years...probably not!

But he should appear and face the consequences. I would respect him for that. Why did it happen now? His lawyers for the last few years have pleaded that the US Dept. of Justice has not made an effort to have him arrested and as such the international warrant for his arrest should be set aside. Not "I'm innocent, but can you find a loophole... this action in Switzerland, by the US dept. of Justice, thankfully throws that defense out the window.

Mr. Polanski should fight extradition and win.

It is obvious that he can not obtain a fair trial in America, and especially not in California.

Actually it is closer to the truth to say that almost no one gets a fair trial in America because the process has become so politicized.

Maggie is absolutely correct! The mother's actions need to be taken into consideration here.

San francisco here. I think he should do his time. It's not fair, just because he's a talented director, who I respect as a director, but not a pedafile!

Polanski should be freed. People seem to overlook the fact that he has owned up to his crime by way of pleading guilty back in '77. If the Judge had not had such an appetite for fame and honored the plea Polanski and Geimer's lawyers had agreed upon, this would not be an issue right now. The man has gone through enough during his life. It would be tragic if the genius behind "Chinatown", "Rosemary's Baby", and "Repulsion", etc, ends his life in prison after spending his youth under the Nazi Occupation.

Sounds like a pervert. He raped a 13 year old girl and has been living the good life. He drugged her and took advantage of a young girl. Just because you are famous you still need to pay for your crime. After his wife was killed, shortly after, he was dating her younger, beautiful sister. He is a weirdo. He needs to pay for his crime. He pled guilty. He has been living the good life and needs to face justice.

M. Polanski robbed this young girl of her innocence in the most heinous of ways.
It doesn't matter that he settled with her out of court.
Her life could never have been the same after the acts he committed on her.
Let him make his final masterpiece from behind bars, if the art community wants/needs him.
He can title it, If you don't wanna do the time, don't do the crime..or whatever.
Anyone who has a sister, mother, aunt or any female in their family would want justice.
Call those out that are speaking on his behalf.
This is an outrage..and he should pay for his crime.
He is a coward.

Is it not about time we Americans try to do something to change our flawed judicial system......

Hollywood big shots are above the law and its ok to ignore their innocent victims. This bum should get life.

I hope and pray that President Obama will do the right thing and pardon this gentleman. I believe he will.

French Culture Minister Frederick Mitterrand said after Polanski was arrested upon arrival in Switzerland to attend the Zurich Film Festival, where he was to receive a lifetime achievement award. "There's an America we love and an America that scares us, and it's that latter America that has just shown us its face."

Really?? Of all the causes one can jump behind in the world, you choose to get behind a 43 year old man who admits to drugging and raping a 13 year girl?? America scares you??? Really???

When Polanski was tried and then sentenced, it was the Judge presiding over the case that messed up and recanted his previous "good faith" arrangement he had made with the prosecutor and defense attorney.........Polanski served his time in jail and I think it is time for Gov. Schwarzenegger to step up now and pardon Polanski – the United States has enough to worry about besides going after a fugitive that has been minding his business in another country for the past 30 years – besides, are the American people who are in favour of jailing Polanski prepared to fund his stay in their prison????? I think the only reason Polanski was arrested after all this time is strictly for political reasons and nothing else!!!! Leave him alone.

Melanie
(Fort Erie, Ontario)

This pig belongs in jail. End of story.

I guess they should let that Garrido molester go as well; afterall it happened a long time ago and he fathered two children with her. But because he doesn't make films he will get whats coming while Polanski is an artist so he wants to skate.

I find most of the comments interesting, and, perhaps, uninformed. Polanski realized his wrong, and worked to protect the victim. For the second time in his life, the LA legal system failed to keep its agreements with Polanski. Remember Manson? How personal effects that were private to Polanski and Tate, and had no bearing on the murder investigation, were made public?
The American justice system, LA style, demonstrated to Polanski that it can not be relied on, trusted. He was willing to serve time for his actions. However, a judge with political ambition decided to ignore the agreement, deny Polanski a jury trial, and put him in prison for life.
What would you do?
I am not saying he is squeaky clean. Far from it. But, neither is the LA DA's office.

None of us where at the home that night. It is time for everyone to care more about the past and pass judgment on what happen so many decades ago. The man had lost his mind. Murdered wife by Charles Manson’s family, dead moth because of Hitler; have any of us been through so much? No. The man was out of his mind. Death makes people act in strange ways, even though by no means was it okay what he did.
If the victim wants to put it behind her and had publicly announced that she no longer cares and had already settled out of court years ago, then we should respect her wishes and move on to what our issues are today. We all have a little to hide, just because someone else got caught, you do not get to cut their head off. Sorry.

Those who are defending him should go read the grand jury testimony available online for years now.

The girl said No.

In fact, she begged to be taken home. To try and ease things along, he drugged her and she still begged him to stop – he didn't. Every time he wanted to do something – she said no. It's rape.

I don't see how anyone can read that testimony and still think this man doesn't belong in jail, if not buried under it. The travesty of justice was that it was even considered to let him escape jail time back in 77.

I think anyone who druged and rapped a 13 yr old girl should be incarcerated for at least 20 years.
Any ordinary person would have been convicted.
It doesn't matter if it 32 years after the fact or 2 years after the fact it happened.
Rape is rape.

Roman Polanski raped a child, by his own admission and by her testimony. On this, they agree, and our legal system should proceed accordingly. I don't care who he is, what he's done since he fled punishment, why he fled, whether or not the victim thinks he should be punished, etc. He raped a child.

Haven't read all the posts, pry should have......... The guy PLEAD GUILTY to a crime against a child. Money kept him out of jail. (leaving the country) So because it's been 30+ years, we should turn the other way??? What if it would have been your daughter?

The next interesting thing is the people rushing to stand up for him. Country Leaders are calling him a great man. GREAT men don't RAPE children.

Additionally, he gets the respect of others WHILE he's on the lamb for RAPE. Harrison Ford went to France to give him his Oscar!!! Many other names have been tied to this guy. Jack Nicholson, is reported to be one of his greatest supporters. WHO defends a child rapist?Perhaps it's up to us to quit supporting these people. From now on when we see someone commited to wrong, STOP spending your money with these FRAUDS. This is the RAPE of a CHILD.

You'd have to be out of your mind to want to use tax payer money to jail this man after all this time. Sorry, I do not support this charade. Leave him be. No good can come of this. American bloodthirst is embarassing.

Justice must be served, no matter how old the case is or how famous he is. Get him back to California and let the courts decide his fate.

Amazing how the vast majority of people posting here condemn this guy even though they know dick all about the trial details. The majority of us non-Americans have absolutely no respect for the US judicial system. It is totally corrupt. I don't hear anyone screaming about how the top Wall Street execs got away with the robbery of the century over the past few years and should be punished for the utter devastation they caused on countless lives. Those men should be extradited to foreign countries and put on trial for causing massive financial damage on the rest of the world and sent to jail for the rest of their lives. What Bernie Madoff did was nothing in comparison to what those criminals got away with. Grow up America.

Although this is the first time I hear of Polansky's case, I'm really irritated by how some Europeans and so called stars have the decency to face the cameras and attempt to protect this pedophile! Justice, though 30 years late, should be served against this criminal.

Polanski needs to face justice plain and simple. This is not about the victim because Polanski is already convicted. Being a successful film maker or having evaded capture for 30 years doesn't mean he is no longer a fugitive.

If this man did not think what he was doing was wrong(because of lower age of consent in France) Why did he drug her? 43years old vs 13yrs ? 13 is young enough to still think Barbie is cool. Maybe this is a problem/ as we sexualize things so materialisticaly and comercialy, that even children become comodities. I woul say he is a whore, but would not want to insult the ladies of the night who are also the prey of these unenlightened, ignorant, classless animals.

I hope to god he is not extradited. If he is sent back to California, I will have lost all belief in the US criminal justice system.

People need to get over it, watch the Pianist or Chinatown and think twice on the slander they are speaking on good polanski's name.

The man has suffered enough.. LEAVE HIM ALONE

We should keep in mind that the victim herself, the only person violated in this situation, feels that Polanski has paid the price and the case should be dropped. Also, shouldn't we hold the family accountable? Who allows a 13 year old girl to be photographed for what is obviously a glamor magazine? There is more to one side to this story and if it was such a priority for the enforcers of justice in this situation...why now? The parties involved in this case dealt and made peace with this dilemma long ago, why didn't the law?....its over and done with....there are more important cases to be dealt with, i say it should be dropped.

He has already pled guilty. How would his extradition and sentencing put the victim though anything? They bring him back, the judge sentences him to the plea deal they made 3 decades ago, add time for leaving the country and then he is sent to live with the other child molesters. Done.

If he is not extradited, or does not get any punishment for his crimes, then I lose all faith in the legal system. Why should famous people not be held accountable for crimes? And why are people defending him? He raped a 13 year old girl. I'm sure if it was their daughter they'd be singing a different tune.

tl;dr – Extradite him, and punish him in the US, or punish him in Sweden.

I am very surprised anyone would support this man. No matter his position or wealth. This is an unspeakable crime and he did admitt to the crime. I can't believe he was only sentenced to 45 days. Lets think about this-he drugged,raped,sodomized,performed oral sex on her (13 year old) and only God knows what all and was only to serve days for it! I don't think the parents of this child should have permitted her to be at any photo shoot let alone with this crazed man and topless. UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!!!! I feel that both the parents and this pervert should have to answer for this crime. He has enjoyed his freedom for far too long. Put him away and every other child molester possible. Ricch or poor. Famous or not.

Lock him up!

It's now time to pay and go to Jail. The fact that he is widely respected in his profession makes no difference. He committed a heinous act against a young girl and that comes and he should be punished.

This is a strange case. Why extradition now?
I agree that it may not be the only underage girl he might have been with but we have no evidence of that. Have there been any others who have made complaints – I have not heard this?
Essentially he should be brought back for sentencing – if this was my 13 year old daughter I would ask no less. I certainly would not let her go alone to an interview for a TV part or photo shoot. Did her Mother know about this? Having no chaperone is highly irregular. Polanski if he was a gentleman would have/should have asked for a chaperone don't you think?
What is the impact on the victim of having this all replayed now – even though she has "forgiven" him? Some consultation should be made to minimize the impact on her. These assaults get replayed in slow motion after one is assaulted – why bring it all back 30 years later?
There should likely be jail time but 20 or 50 years seems quite severe especially after years of inaction. The 45 days seems laughable to me if Polanski is guilty and not just copping a plea.

He is a CHILD RAPIST. What don't people get about that? Seems some people are saying it is alright to do this if you are rich and famous. I wonder how they would feel if it had been their daughter this pervert raped? They should put him in prison for drugging the girl, raping the girl and skipping the country.

The victim would rather not have to go though this since she received an undisclosed settlement from Polanski. He and all other pedophiles need to be brought to trial. The person that said that in France the consent age is lower than the USA has it all wrong. The consent age has never been 13 in France and the girl never consented! Polanski is a Pedophile and should never have been given an award for Directing the Pianist. Another example of Hollywood morals are bent for the sake of being able to show films in Europe and worldwide. Polanski needs some morals and so does the Hollywood Director's Guild that supported him.

Cindy rambles.. on another note, I think Polanski should be left alone, hell even the girl he shouldn't have had sex with agreed the matter should be dropped.

If the victim is an adult, noted as 45 in the article, does not want the case to proceede then it should be dropped. The whole point is to bring justice to some one who has wronged the victim, so it should be the victim's call assuming they are an adult.

I find it hard to believe that there is sympathy in Switzerland and in France in high government for this man. He must extradited and face the US judicial system for the crime he committed and pleaded guilty of.

There are far better ways for the Los Angeles taxpayer money to be spent at this time. Steve Cooley is just trying to get the publicity and somebody in the DA's office getting a lovely vacation to Switerland on my dime. This will be a long and protracted battle that, in the end, will likely not result in Polanski being returned to Los Angeles. And should he end up back here the case will more than likely be thrown out of court due to judge and prosecution misconduct on the first trial.

I for one would rather all this money be spent in this budget crisis on getting one more murdering gang member (like the one that just killed a 4 month old baby over the weekend) off the fair streets of LA than putting a 70+ year old man in jail.

In response to Maggie

Everyone has the facts!!!!!!!!!!!! He was 43 she was 13 its people like you that run screaming to everyone who will listen when its your kid..............

Get a grip 45 days for raping a child of 13 you need help...........

THIS DIRT BAG NEEDS TO BE IN JAIL FOR 20 YEARS........................

Here we go again. If you are rich or powerful you can drug and rape who ever you want. And to protect you, you get people like Debra Winger supporting the drugging and the rape of a young girl because the man is an artist. I wonder if that had happened to her daughter if she would feel the same. Of course if it led to a lead in a film then maybe it would be worth it to her and the others of her ilk. And we wonder why this country is the way it is today.

Calm down people. Polanski did not plead guilty to any rape and drugging charge. The only thing he did plead guilty for was having sex with a minor. as for the judge, he and the prosecutor were coaching each other and baldly lied about a rape occurring. Since when is this normal justice? Bearing false witness and calumny are crimes tat can and should lead to jail terms.

I hope Mr. Polanski serves time for sex with a minor. I also hope the prosecutor and judge serve time in jail for false accusations and for conspiracy. I don't hope they are disbarred – no, that would be too little punishment. Serving hard time behind the bars is what these lawbreakers deserve.

Poor Derrion Albert. It's time to address Black Anger and persecution mania...! Say No to sex, drugs and violence and start studying people. It's actually fun when you work, and boring when you don't...Jeez!
Roman Polanski must do time. A 13-yr old is a 13 yr old.

He raped a child, admitted to having sex with that child, and then skipped bail. He's a fugitive, fleeing a sentence for child rape.

None of the rest really matters.

You know, a crime is a crime. An act of sexual violence gets taken up by the Law. What the victim wants counts to a certain point. In the point of a victim pleading for the dismissal of charges for her/his sexual perpetrator, that's beyond sick and it's immoral.

His "supporters" make me sick. I read an article where one person actually said Polanski has already atoned for the "sins of his youth". Excuse me, he was a 43 year old man who plied a 13 year old girl with alcohol and drugs, then raped her. He hasn't begun to "atone" for "the sins he committed agaist a youth". And for Debra Winger, if a 43 year old man did this to her 13 year old daughter, would she be calling it a "legal technicality". And for those who say he already "did his time", he fled the country before he was sentenced. What time did he already do? He underwent a 42 day psychiatric evaluation. How is that "serving" time for the crime he admitted to doing? He's been living it up in Europe and thumbing his nose at the laws of the United States for 31 years. Haul his sorry butt back here and throw it in jail for the rest of his life!

I don't see why he doesn't want to come back. Doesn't he know how we treat celebrities in Los Angeles? He'll get a slap on the wrist, go on the talk show circuit or maybe a Larry King Exclusive Interview, and after a publicist inspired image revamp, he'll be back to entertaining us and having better box office sales than ever before. Hey we'll probably give him another award. He'll be fine... look at Chris Brown or... Woody Allen

They should listen to the victim, and drop the case, it's stupid after so many years... let him die in peace...

Mr.Polanski should own up for the crime he committed,regardless how long ago it took place.Anybody who defends the actions of a middle-aged man violating a teenager is full of beans,to put it mildly...and just because he is a well known director of several notable films does not justify giving him special treatment. In fact,for being on the run for some thirty-plus years,the authorities should make an example of him to send a clear message to those in a position of power,that,you misbehave,you will face justice sooner or later.

Stop burdening the california tax payers on useless judicial waste. Give the guy a break it's been over 3 decades and the case was over then why pick on Roman, hasn't he been through enough as we seen his wife's murderer last week Susan Atkins pass.. Roman has been a target for tragedy since he was born. It's time to worry about real crimes and spend california taxes where they need them the most not on extraditing this man who served his time for his crime and it's time to move on as he did.

I hope he sticks it to the vindictive monstrosity the US judicial system has become. And I smell a rat in all this. Somebody connected to the LA DA's office has something political to gain from pursuing this after all these years.

I find it disturbing that people are acting like we should forget what this man did. If that was me ,they would have thrown the book on me. He should be hold accountable for his action.He obviously didnt loose sleep over it. Stick him in jail and throw the key away.

Sex with a minor is criminal even if it is consensual, and this pervert is accused of drugging and raping a 13 year old child. Even the rich and famous cannot get away this. He should be tried in criminal court.

I wonder what the French courts would do if he raped one of their own citizens? Thanks again.... France.

yes, roman polanski should be prosecuted and arrested for breaking the laws of this country and escaping his crimes, but more importantly this young man from Chicago who RECENTLY lost his LIFE to violence and ignorance. His death should be one of many cries for help from our (America's) urban centers. We don't need more cops, or more brutality, we need opportunities and proper values. Kids anywhere can easily fall victim to senseless crimes when there is too much spare time and nothing constructive to do. Kids without proper guidance are easily swayed to drugs and anything remotely dangerous and/or fun. Let's keep perspective and fight real, ON GOING dangers to our selves and children. They still are the future.

Polanski's attorney should file a motion with the Los Angeles court to sentence Polanski in absentia. Sentence should be "time served" and perhaps additional probation.
The arrest warrant is dismissed; the extradition becomes moot and Polanski is released where he is at..
This also takes care of and avoids potential diplomatic snafus.
Sounds like a reasonable way to satisfy everyone and put this behind us.
Perhaps the State Department can help make this happen.

Its so sad that he has to go through this ...especially after so much time that has passed but...if he jus like everybody has to eventually face justice. Eventually everything catches up with you.

U cant just run from the law and expect everything to dissapear

If her mother is the one who 'handed' her daughter to Polanski, what about her and the welfare and safe guarding her child. No real mother would do that to her child. She probably knew what was going to happen, isn't that how things used to work? The how far will you go and what will you do to get an acting break in the 70s? I think her mother ought to have child neglect charges as well.

Why extradite Polanski, if he gets the same punishment as everyone else he might do a few months in jail and then be released on parole! America’s child crime laws and how we care for the victim is what we should be trying to change. His victim’s apology is a classic example of how the treatments of these situations help fuel the guilt that already exist in anyone’s mind after a traumatic situation. The truth is extradition will bring him back to the streets of America.

Finally!