Roman Polanski (Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES -- A Los Angeles judge has ruled Roman Polanski must return to the U.S. to be sentenced in a decades-old sex case.
Superior Court Judge Peter Espinoza's ruling Friday is likely to be appealed.
Attorneys for the 76-year-old Polanski attorneys have argued their client should be sentenced in abstentia to time already served after pleading guilty in 1978 to one count of unlawful sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old girl.
Prosecutors insist Polanski must appear in a Los Angeles courtroom and not be permitted to manipulate the justice system.
Polanski was initially accused of raping the girl after giving her champagne and a Quaalude pill during a 1977 modeling shoot at Jack Nicholson's house.
He was indicted on six felony counts, including rape by use of drugs, child molestation and sodomy, but he pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of unlawful sexual intercourse.
He fled to his native France on the eve of sentencing in 1978 after spending 42 days a California prison for a psychiatric evaluation.
The judge, who had promised no further jail time, reneged and was planning to sentence him more harshly.
Polanski's attorneys have said the judge's promise is binding and the director has served his full sentence.
They have asked Espinoza for a full hearing with witnesses about allegations of judicial and prosecutorial misconduct in the case.
Polanski is under house arrest in his Swiss vacation home.
Superior Court Judge Peter Espinoza's ruling Friday is likely to be appealed.
Attorneys for the 76-year-old Polanski attorneys have argued their client should be sentenced in abstentia to time already served after pleading guilty in 1978 to one count of unlawful sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old girl.
Prosecutors insist Polanski must appear in a Los Angeles courtroom and not be permitted to manipulate the justice system.
Polanski was initially accused of raping the girl after giving her champagne and a Quaalude pill during a 1977 modeling shoot at Jack Nicholson's house.
He was indicted on six felony counts, including rape by use of drugs, child molestation and sodomy, but he pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of unlawful sexual intercourse.
He fled to his native France on the eve of sentencing in 1978 after spending 42 days a California prison for a psychiatric evaluation.
The judge, who had promised no further jail time, reneged and was planning to sentence him more harshly.
Polanski's attorneys have said the judge's promise is binding and the director has served his full sentence.
They have asked Espinoza for a full hearing with witnesses about allegations of judicial and prosecutorial misconduct in the case.
Polanski is under house arrest in his Swiss vacation home.
