Judge refuses to end Roman Polanski sex assault case

FILE - This combination of photo shows director Roman Polanski at the photo call for the film, "Based On A True Story," at the 70th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, on May 27, 2017, left, and Polanski at a Santa Monica, Calif., courthouse on Aug. 8, 1977. A Los Angeles judge has denied the impassioned plea of Roman Polanski's victim to end the criminal case against the fugitive director. Judge Scott Gordon ruled Friday, Aug. 18, 2017. Polanski must appear in Superior Court if he expects to have his four-decade-old case resolved. Gordon's ruling follows a fervent request by Polanski victim Samantha Geimer to end a "40-year sentence" she says was imposed on perpetrator and victim. Polanski pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting Geimer when she was 13. (AP Photo/Files) FILE - This combination of photo shows director Roman Polanski at the photo call for the film, "Based On A True Story," at the 70th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, on May 27, 2017, left, and Polanski at a Santa Monica, Calif., courthouse on Aug. 8, 1977. A Los Angeles judge has denied the impassioned plea of Roman Polanski's victim to end the criminal case against the fugitive director. Judge Scott Gordon ruled Friday, Aug. 18, 2017. Polanski must appear in Superior Court if he expects to have his four-decade-old case resolved. Gordon's ruling follows a fervent request by Polanski victim Samantha Geimer to end a "40-year sentence" she says was imposed on perpetrator and victim. Polanski pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting Geimer when she was 13. (AP Photo/Files)

By Associated Press August 18, 2017 4 min read

LOS ANGELES (AP) – A Los Angeles judge on Friday denied the impassioned plea of Roman Polanski’s victim to end a four-decade-old sexual assault case against the fugitive director.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Scott Gordon ruled that Polanski must return to California if he expects to resolve charges of sexually abusing a teen. The Oscar winner fled the country on the eve of sentencing in 1978.

Gordon’s ruling follows a fervent request by Samantha Geimer to end a “40-year sentence” she says was imposed on both perpetrator and victim. It was issued on Polanski’s 84th birthday and blamed the director for the fact that the case was still alive.

“Her statement is dramatic evidence of the long-lasting and traumatic effect these crimes, and defendant’s refusal to obey court orders and appear for sentencing, is having on her life,” Gordon wrote.

Harland Braun, Polanski’s attorney, said the ruling came after the judge asked for proposals on how to resolve the case. Braun’s proposals include several that previously were rejected by the court.