From L.A. Times Blogs
Three decades after he fled the United States following his arrest for unlawful sex with a 13-year-old girl, Roman Polanski was taken into custody in Zurich this morning and faces extradition to Los Angeles.
Polanski, the famed film director whose career continued to flourish even after fleeing for Europe, was arrested as he arrived in the Swiss city to accept an award at the Zurich Film Festival.
The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office learned last week that Polanski had plans to travel to Zurich this weekend, said Sandi Gibbons, spokeswoman for the district attorney’s office.
Prosecutors sent a provisional arrest warrant to the U.S. Justice Department, which presented it to Swiss authorities. On at least two previous occasions, the district attorney’s office has received reports that Polanski had travel arrangements to countries with extradition treaties with the U.S. and prepared paperwork for his arrest, Gibbons said.
“But in the end, he apparently found out about it and didn’t go,” she said.
A source familiar with the investigation told The Times that the U.S. Marshals Service had come close to arresting Polanski half a dozen times or so over the past few decades — though several of those opportunities presented themselves in the last two years.
“For one reason or another, it just didn’t work out,” said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the case was ongoing. “There are so many variables.”
The source said Polanski always was very careful about when and where he traveled. But as new questions arose in recent years about the fairness of his case, the source said Polanski appeared to become more at ease about travel.
Yes, Roman did admit he had sex with the 13 year old girl; however, he was not charged with rape. … what he did was wrong, even if it was long ago, he still was made responsible for this…
The pervert (aka Roman) had AT MINIMUM strait sex with her, a 13 year old girl, it has been proven that it was more than just sex, add to that that the alcohol and other drugs which have a long and consistant history of impairing peoples abuility to judge and make GOOD decisions and you have a situation with no good end. BUT!!! this was not a “OMG, how did this happen i was at a photo shoot and i woke up and there were all these drugs and empty bottles” this was an manmade disaster a 13 year old maybe capable of making decisions but they should never be put in a position to have to tell someone no. while the fault does not rest on the parents of the girl their involvment (or lack there of) should not be overlooked… kk thats enough for now. the pervert already knows what he did and he doesnt want to pay, well guess what time to wake up and smell the prision cell the long arm of the law finally snatched your old *** up.