Judge Denies Request to Drop Roman Polanski’s Sexual Abuse Case

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A Los Angeles County judge once again denied a request to drop Roman Polanski’s decades-old sexual abuse case.

The judge, Scott M. Gordon of Los Angeles County Superior Court, had dismissed a similar plea from Mr. Polanski in April, who is hoping to lift an international arrest warrant. Mr. Polanski, now 84, has not returned to the United States since 1978, when he fled the country after pleading guilty to unlawful sex with Samantha Geimer when she was 13 years old.

In June, Ms. Geimer, now 54, appeared before the court and requested that Judge Gordon end the legal proceedings. “I would implore you to do this for me, out of mercy for myself,” Ms. Geimer said.

Judge Gordon said he would take Ms. Geimer’s request under consideration. But last Tuesday, another woman came forward to accuse Mr. Polanski of sexual abuse when she was a minor. “I am speaking out now so that Samantha and the world will know that she is not the only minor Roman Polanski victimized,” the woman, who was identified only as Robin, said, reading from a prepared statement.

On Friday, Judge Gordon reiterated that he would not drop the case, and said no deal can be reached until Mr. Polanski returns to the United States and appears before the court. He also rejected a request by Harland Braun, Mr. Polanski’s attorney, to unseal testimony about Mr. Polanski’s 1977 plea deal.

“The defendant in this matter stands as a fugitive and refuses to comply with court orders,” Judge Gordon wrote.

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