7) Roman Polanski’s Statutory R*pe Case (1977)
In 1977, acclaimed director Roman Polanski was arrested for s*xually assaulting a 13-year-old girl during a photoshoot in Los Angeles. Polanski pleaded guilty to unlawful s*xual relations but fled to Europe before sentencing, fearing a lengthy prison term. Despite living as a fugitive, he continued making films and even won an Oscar in 2003 for The Pianist. Over the years, Polanski’s case has divided Hollywood, with some defending his work and others condemning his actions. Efforts to extradite him to the U.S. have repeatedly failed, and he remains in Europe, avoiding countries that may honor extradition requests.
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Edited by Priscillah Mueni