Roman Polanski has failed to have his long-running case involving sex with a minor revoked by a US judge.
The film-maker pleaded guilty to unlawful sex with a 13-year-old girl in 1977, but fled on the day of sentencing and has been 'on the run' (making films) for almost 40 years.
Lawyers for Polanski said he would be willing to return to America if he was assured he would not serve more jail time, but a judge has rejected the motion.
Prosecutors urged Polanski to return back to the US for sentencing, and said he should not receive special treatment as a "wealthy celebrity".
In a statement released from the Los Angeles Superior Court said (via the BBC): "Judge [Scott] Gordon has ruled that [the] defendant's motions and corresponding requests are denied."
The hearing took place last month.
Since fleeing the States, Polanski has lived in exile in France, Switzerland and his native Poland.
Polanski's lawyer has argued that his previous confinement in jail and house arrest in Switzerland during a failed extradition attempt in 2007 and 2009 means the Rosemary Baby's director has already served his sentence.
He was placed under house arrest for nine months after Swiss authorities rejected a US extradition warrant in 2010.
Previous rulings have declared that the only way he can only address his claims is by returning to LA for his sentencing hearing.
Polanski pleaded guilty to unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor Samantha Jane Gailey (now Samantha Geimer). Geimer's testimony claimed Polanski had asked her mother if he could photograph her for the French edition of Vogue, and that after her mother had allowed her to take part in a private shoot, she became uncomfortable when he asked her to pose topless.
It was during a second photoshoot which took place at Jack Nicholson's home - Nicholson was away with then partner Anjelica Huston when the crime was committed - that Geimer says he plied her with champagne and part of a quaalude before raping her.
Geimer's attorney arranged a plea bargain with Polanski, to protect Geimer from the ordeal of a tria. Polanski accepted, dismissing the five charges of rape by use of drugs, perversion, sodomy, lewd and lascivious act upon a child under fourteen, and furnishing a controlled substance to a minor to the lesser charge of engaging in unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor.
The court allowed him to complete his project at the time, and he was able to travel to Europe to finish filming. He returned to LA, but fled to London to avoid prison time, and then to France, where has a citizenship, and the country refused to extradite him following a request from the US. He's avoided countries - such as the UK - that would likely extradite him, and has continued to work in in France, Germany, the Czech Republic and Poland - where he also holds citizenship.
Naomi Gordon is news writer mainly covering entertainment news with a focus on celebrity interviews and television.
