Prosecutor Says He Lied in Polanski Film to 'Make Stuff Look Better'

By PopEater / Wire Services Posted Oct 1st 2009 08:56AM

A former prosecutor says he made up a story he told a film crew about advising a judge handling Roman Polanski's sex case to send the director to prison, according to an indieWIRE report. In 'Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired,' David F. Wells is depicted as conferring with a trial judge more than 30 years ago about Polanski's case. Wells said in the documentary that the judge took his advice in deciding to renege on a plea bargain and give Polanski additional prison time.

"I made that up to make the stuff look better," said Wells, who admits he overstated his actions after being told the film would air in France, not the United States. The film aired on HBO. Wells spins a few yarns, beginning at 1:35:

Wells' statement on the documentary later became part of the basis for a move by Polanski's attorneys to dismiss the case against the fugitive director, who was arrested in Switzerland on Saturday.

In France, several government officials who had initially rushed to Polanski's defense were being more cautious on Thursday, stressing that the renowned filmmaker is not above the law.

Wells, who retired more than two years ago, did not handle Polanski's case but was assigned to the courtroom where it was heard and had frequent interactions with the now-deceased trial judge Laurence J. Rittenband.

"They interviewed me in the Malibu courthouse when I was still a DA, and I embellished a story," Wells said about the film crew in an interview with The Associated Press Wednesday. "I'm a guy who cuts to the chase - I lied. It embarrasses the hell of me."

Wells said he was sorry about making the comments for the documentary.

"I cost the DA's office a lot of money and aggravation over this," Wells said.

Polanski was accused of plying a 13-year-old girl with champagne and part of a Quaalude during a modeling shoot in 1977 and raping her. He was initially indicted on six felony counts, including rape by use of drugs, child molesting and sodomy.

He pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of unlawful sexual intercourse; in exchange, the remaining charges were dropped, and the judge agreed to send Polanski to prison for a 90-day psychiatric evaluation.

But Polanski was released after 42 days and fled the country for France before sentencing after the judge reportedly told lawyers he planned to add more prison time.

Polanski's attorneys later argued in a motion to dismiss the case that the communications between the judge and Wells were clear misconduct and violated Polanski's constitutional rights.

That motion was dismissed because Polanski was a fugitive at the time, though the judge acknowledged "substantial misconduct" in the original case. The matter is now in the hands of an appeals court.

One of Polanski's attorneys, Chad Hummel, declined to comment on Wells' comments. District Attorney's spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons said the office also had no comment.

Marina Zenovich, who directed the film, did not return a phone message seeking comment.

Wells' admission was first reported in a story by former O.J. Simpson prosecutor Marcia Clark on the Web site The Daily Beast.

Polanski's victim, Samantha Geimer, who long ago identified herself, has joined in Polanski's bid for dismissal. She testified at the time that Polanski forced himself on her - which he acknowledged in his guilty plea - but has said she forgives him and wants the ordeal to be over.

Wells said he would testify in court that he lied and has offered to give a sworn declaration to prosecutors about his actions, in case they need it. No one from the district attorney's office has contacted him since he made the offer several months ago, he said.

Wells said he showed Rittenband a copy of a newspaper that pictured Polanski with girls at an Oktoberfest event. Wells said he never talked about potential sentences and the judge would have seen the paper anyway.

Wells said he still believes Polanski should receive a much stiffer sentence.

Meanwhile, French government officials were softening their defense of Polanski.

Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner initially called Polanski's arrest a "bit sinister," while Culture Minister Frederic Mitterrand said the filmmaker had been "thrown to the lions."

The reactions sparked a debate in France, and many complained that the government and cultural elites were unfairly rallying behind the director because of his fame and artistic talent.

On Thursday, Kouchner offered slightly more measured comments, saying "no one is above the law," according to an interview with Russia's Ekho Moskvy radio.

French government spokesman Luc Chatel was also quoted in French media saying Polanski must face justice like everyone else.

Tags: hbo, roman polanski, roman polanski wanted and desired, RomanPolanski, RomanPolanskiWantedAndDesired

Comments

(20)

Thursday 01 October

By Bob

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So, if Phil Spector would have made it to Europe, he would not be sitting in jail. If only OJ would have made it across the Mexican border, he would be making commercials. The main surprise in all of this is how easy the courts were about things like this back then, and why they didn't get Polanski sooner.

By Michael Boyd

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Bob-

I've been told that Polanski played his H-Card.

By jim hegarty

A LAWYER LIED? THAT'S NOT NEWS. A LAWYER ADMITTING HE LIED. NOW THAT'S NEWS.

By Lisa E Long

I cannot believe Debra Tate's comments that the sex between Polanski and the 13 year old was consensual. Is she on crack? Do you get to pick and chose who is a victim when you are related to the perpetrator? I use to feel sorry for Debra but she is just a big a hypocrite as the rest of them in "Hollywierd".

By Tom

13 years! old 13 years old !!consensual really really really dont make me puke- these left wing liberals really are stunning and arrogant in their positions. This little bastard should spend some serious time in jail. You know its amazing how the pursue the smallest of the Nazi war figures for alleged crimes of 60 years ago ( and maybe they should depending on their crimes) but a little goon like this rapes a 13 year old and they act like nothing happened

By Tanya

Polanski fled the country because he knew he was going to be rightfully required to serve more jail time. If he had been a man and faced justice (and not just a man who rapes children) then he wouldn't be in the predicament he finds himself in today. He's lived the high life and now has to pay the piper. How anyone can condone or defend his actions is incomprehensible. The victim has the right to forgive him, but he still needs to answer to the law which is not as forgiving but is necessary lest society run amok.

Saturday 03 October

By richard fusilier de la Claire

The Polanski story could make a good movie. What if Roman was lured into doing the act; Entrapped in other words, (Although not by law officials) with the young, mature beyond her age, alleged victim in on it. What if he was blackmailed in certain aspects and there was/is a further extension of a payoff, Couldn't there be a crime inside 'that' crime in trelation to Justice. There has to be a reason for all the reticence and weirdness in this matter. It is more bizarre than Polanski's movie "China Town"

By twogolfcats

I cant believe the Hollywood degenerates that are willing to give this Rapist a pass for what he did???? How do their minds work???People like Woody Allen, Debra Winger, Wienstien, Demme, Scorcese -I guess for to long, peole like these folks have been part and parcel of producing immorality in movies and IN THEIR PERSONAL lives,so cant see filth for the lives they live!!!~!

By Kurt

This makes me sick to even think that there are people out there that are sticking up for this sick perverted animal.Cant they see the FACTS?
1)She was barely even a teen ager-13 years old...still a little girl
2)He gave her booze and drugs
3)He forced himself on her and had sex with her against her will-RAPE & CHILD MOLESTATION!!!
4)he took porno graphic pictures of her-CHILD PORN
5)He SODOMIZED HER.....SICK PERVERT!!!!!

THIS MAN NEEDS TO BE LOCKED UP FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE!!!!!!!!

By Happy

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Wow.. Not only does this guy salute the Lame Justice from the 70's with the middle finger.
Is on the lam so to speak for 30 years...
LOOK at the "SATRS" and H'WOOD crowd who support him.
In essence these 100 or so people CONDONE
CHILD RAPE, CHILD DRUGGING, and CHILD ENDANGERMENT !! A_HOLES !!!

Apparently, some artists need a little spice to fill in the blanks. There is nothing new about people of power getting away with ANYTHING. This has been going on since...

Wake up and smell the money.

Check out the movie credits which follow the actual film. See how many people are involved. What is one little 13-yr old (some say she was 12)and a little sodomy, etc when it comes to 100's of people? Look at the BIG PICTURE!

One of my questions. Look, LA is a large city, probably 13,000,000 in LA County???? Movie celebs such as R. Polanski would be next to impossible to contact. Here was a pre-teen girl from Woodland Hills who managed to end up with Polanski. How was this possible?
One possibility: She goes to public school. And, so I've been told, she was attractive, quite mature for her young age.

Isn't it possible that the movie/music crowd would have people, such as school teachers, administrators, who keep an eye out for these types of girls who display certain "traits" and "attributes?" These people may even have a direct phone number.

Point is, someone has to have let Polanski know about her. It's not as if Polanski himself would have hung around middle schools out in the Valley looking for someone to molest.

By Howard

I think the lawyer should be charged also. Send them both to jail.

By John Ricci

Bottom Line: He is a fugitive from justice. He pleaded guilty. Enough said. If it was you or me, we'd be in jail at this moment. What the hell is wrong with this country. He's been free for over 30 years and now it's time to pay the piper.

By carlybt16

Screw those freaks in Hollywood!!! It's hard to believe they gave him a standing ovation when The Pianist came out, knowing what he had done. Maybe one of their children will be raped and drugged and we will see how they feel!!

By Bonbon

I cannot believe the amount of celebrities that condone the rape of a little girl, Scorcese, Allen, Goldberg, Winger, Penelope Cruz, what a bunch of losers and perverts. Boycott everything and anything they do, I wonder if Penelope Cruz will ever feel differently if she has a daughter....theb beotch!!!!

yeah i will boycot all these sick's who stand up for this animal...how did you find these actors...i'm sure there are more...where can i get the list?thanks

By marcia

Did anyone hear Whoopi's comment on THE VIEW this week? She reckons
that the sex between this sick pervert and the girl was consentual as both the parents
and the girl agreed therefore it cannot be considered as rape. Shocked.. I nearly fell out of my chair. She
then tried to clarify her comments yesterday as she must be getting some heat from the network. I for one won't be
watching that programme again. I used to like Whoppi

Tuesday 06 October

By bethehigg

I have a 13 year old daughter, and this guy makes me sick. I cannot imagine ever forgiving him, and if this victim's mother is still around I doubt she would either. He did this horrible act and he pled guilty. Why does he think he's so special? No one is above the law.

By Deb Williams

Polanski should be punished for what he did. I can not believe Hollywood, let them get their young daughters ready to be his next victims. Being a victim of this type of crime myself I am very angry at anyone who would stick up for him. Do these people really think he has lived a nice quite life while he was on the run? No I'm sure there are other victims out there. Once a child molester always a child molester.

Sunday 04 October

By icdou007

GUILTY AS SIN, ADMITTED IT HIMSELF...........and ran. Come on people. Do you not have morals?

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