Samantha Geimer

In the four weeks since director Roman Polanski's arrest, Samantha Geimer has once again found herself in an unwanted spotlight. Phone calls from the media besieged her at home, on her cellphone, at work, seeking comment from the woman who was the 13-year-old victim in the director's sex case three decades ago. Calls have come at all hours of the day, from as far as Germany, Israel and Japan. Every TV network's national morning show called, as did Larry King and Oprah Winfrey.

A judge has rejected director Roman Polanski's bid to be sentenced in absentia in a three-decade-old child-sex case. Judge Peter Espinoza ruled that Polanski, 76, will have to come back Los Angeles to be sentenced. "I have made it clear he needs to surrender," the judge said. Polanski's attorneys said they would appeal. The famed film director is under house arrest in Switzerland, where he is waiting to learn whether the Swiss government will extradite him to the U.S. to face sentencing for having sex with a 13-year-old girl.

In the 33 years since she accused Roman Polanski of rape, Samantha Geimer has publicly forgiven the acclaimed director, accused the U.S. justice system of mistreating him and urged a dismissal of his still pending criminal case. Today, Geimer is expected to act again on Polanski's behalf and ask that a Los Angeles County judge halt efforts to extradite the filmmaker from Switzerland. In papers filed in Superior Court on Thursday, Geimer's lawyer accused the Los Angeles County district attorney's office of violating state victims' rights statutes by not consulting Geimer before seeking extradition.

In the 33 years since she accused Roman Polanski of rape, Samantha Geimer has publicly forgiven the acclaimed director, accused the U.S. justice system of mistreating him and urged a dismissal of his still pending criminal case. Today, Geimer is expected to act again on Polanski's behalf and ask that a Los Angeles County judge halt efforts to extradite the filmmaker from Switzerland. In papers filed in Superior Court on Thursday, Geimer's lawyer accused the Los Angeles County district attorney's office of violating state victims' rights statutes by not consulting Geimer before seeking extradition.

A woman who said director Roman Polanski raped her three decades ago when she was 13 has accused the district attorney's office of victimizing her anew by releasing "lurid details" of the crime. In an affidavit filed Monday in Superior Court, Samantha Geimer said she was hurt that a prosecutor did not consult her before including a meticulous recounting of the 1977 crime in recent court papers opposing Polanski's attempt to get the case dismissed. "True as they may be, the continued publication of those details causes harm to me, my beloved husband, my three children and my mother," Geimer wrote.

One cannot help but feel sympathy for Samantha Geimer's request ("Judge the Movie, Not the Man," Commentary, Feb. 23) that she be permitted to move on with her life without being periodically asked about Roman Polanski. However, the justice system exists to punish and deter criminals, even where the victim may not agree with the punishment. The judge had every right to conclude that the sentence Geimer agreed to was insufficient, and Polanski had no right to flee the country to escape punishment.

One of the chief arguments for Roman Polanski in his otherwise not-very-defensible case is that his victim -- the girl he allegedly drugged, raped and sodomized when she was 13 in 1977 -- doesn't seem to be holding a grudge. Samantha Geimer has said repeatedly that she doesn't want Polanski prosecuted. She went so far as to file a statement in the state 2nd District Court of Appeal last week asking that the case be dismissed, arguing that as a crime victim she has a right to "finality" under the California Constitution.

A judge has rejected director Roman Polanski's bid to be sentenced in absentia in a three-decade-old child-sex case. Judge Peter Espinoza ruled that Polanski, 76, will have to come back Los Angeles to be sentenced. "I have made it clear he needs to surrender," the judge said. Polanski's attorneys said they would appeal. The famed film director is under house arrest in Switzerland, where he is waiting to learn whether the Swiss government will extradite him to the U.S. to face sentencing for having sex with a 13-year-old girl.

Roman Polanski agreed to pay the victim in his child-sex case at least $500,000 as part of a civil settlement, but then failed to live up to the terms of the agreement, according to court filings reviewed Friday. The documents leave open the question of whether the fugitive filmmaker has ever paid the money he promised in the confidential 1993 settlement with Samantha Geimer, but a change in her approach to Polanski in subsequent years suggests they may have resolved the issue.

1977: The LAPD arrests Roman Polanski on suspicion of "unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor." Polanski, 44, pleads guilty. 1977: Released after a 42-day psychiatric evaluation, Polanski enters a guilty plea in exchange for "time served" as a sentence. A judge rejects the prosecution agreement and Polanski flees to France. 2003: Victim Samantha Geimer writes that what Polanski "did to me was wrong. But I wish he would return to America so the whole ordeal can be put to rest for both of us."

One of the chief arguments for Roman Polanski in his otherwise not-very-defensible case is that his victim -- the girl he allegedly drugged, raped and sodomized when she was 13 in 1977 -- doesn't seem to be holding a grudge. Samantha Geimer has said repeatedly that she doesn't want Polanski prosecuted. She went so far as to file a statement in the state 2nd District Court of Appeal last week asking that the case be dismissed, arguing that as a crime victim she has a right to "finality" under the California Constitution.

In the four weeks since director Roman Polanski's arrest, Samantha Geimer has once again found herself in an unwanted spotlight. Phone calls from the media besieged her at home, on her cellphone, at work, seeking comment from the woman who was the 13-year-old victim in the director's sex case three decades ago. Calls have come at all hours of the day, from as far as Germany, Israel and Japan. Every TV network's national morning show called, as did Larry King and Oprah Winfrey.

Roman Polanski agreed to pay the victim in his child-sex case at least $500,000 as part of a civil settlement, but then failed to live up to the terms of the agreement, according to court filings reviewed Friday. The documents leave open the question of whether the fugitive filmmaker has ever paid the money he promised in the confidential 1993 settlement with Samantha Geimer, but a change in her approach to Polanski in subsequent years suggests they may have resolved the issue.

A woman who said director Roman Polanski raped her three decades ago when she was 13 has accused the district attorney's office of victimizing her anew by releasing "lurid details" of the crime. In an affidavit filed Monday in Superior Court, Samantha Geimer said she was hurt that a prosecutor did not consult her before including a meticulous recounting of the 1977 crime in recent court papers opposing Polanski's attempt to get the case dismissed. "True as they may be, the continued publication of those details causes harm to me, my beloved husband, my three children and my mother," Geimer wrote.

One cannot help but feel sympathy for Samantha Geimer's request ("Judge the Movie, Not the Man," Commentary, Feb. 23) that she be permitted to move on with her life without being periodically asked about Roman Polanski. However, the justice system exists to punish and deter criminals, even where the victim may not agree with the punishment. The judge had every right to conclude that the sentence Geimer agreed to was insufficient, and Polanski had no right to flee the country to escape punishment.

The Early Show Peter Greenberg. (N) 7 a.m. KCBS Today Aaron Eckhart; Suze Orman. (N) 7 a.m. KNBC Good Morning America Samantha Geimer; Rascal Flatts performs. (N) 7 a.m. KABC Rachael Ray Star Jones. (N) 9 a.m. KCBS Live With Regis and Kelly Jennifer Lopez. (N) 9 a.m. KABC The View Michelle Rodriguez. (N) 10 a.m. KABC The Doctors Sugar-free sweeteners; Sears undergoes a tooth extraction. (N) 11 a.m. KCAL The Talk Johnny Galecki; cast members of "Sister Wives.