Stacie L. Patterson Law Blog

After fleeing the country 30 years ago and spending time in a Swiss jail, Roman Polanski has been denied requests to be sentenced in absentia or have his case dismissed.  He is still living under house arrest in his Swiss chalet awaiting the outcome of an extradition request.  Polanski is wanted in California for fleeing the country to avoid being sentenced for a crime he was charged with in 1978.  The famous movie director pled guilty to unlawful intercourse with a minor in exchange to have the original five charges against him dropped.  Attorneys offered the exchange in order to protect the anonymity of the then 13 year old victim.  She has since publicly forgiven Polanski and filed a formal request with the Los Angeles Police Department to drop charges against him.  Should Switzerland extradite him, he faces up to two years in prison.