A Los Angeles judge has denied director Roman Polanski’s latest bid to have his 1977 sex case dismissed.
A nine-page order issued by Superior Court Judge James Brandlin states that Polanski’s claims of judicial misconduct and his bid to dismiss the case cannot be addressed because he remains a fugitive outside the country after pleading guilty to unlawful sex with a minor in 1977.
Polanski’s lawyers have sought a public evidentiary hearing for the case claiming a judge who handled the matter in 2008 and 2009 committed misconduct.
Judge Brandlin’s order states Polanski has other options, including returning to California to address his claims.
In a 1977 plea deal, the Oscar-winning director pleaded guilty to one count of statutory rape for having sex with a 13-year-old girl during a photo shoot in Los Angeles.
Polanski was ordered in 1977 to undergo a psychiatric study at the state prison in Chino, where he served 42 days.
The prosecutor and Polanski’s attorney have said they understood from a private conversation with the judge handling the case that the time in prison would serve as Polanski’s punishment.
However, lawyers for the Polish-born director said the judge later reneged on the agreement and suggested Polanski would go back to prison. Polanski then fled to France.