Roman Polanski was charged with drugging and raping a 13-year-old girl during a private photo shoot. In March 1977 he was arrested on those charges. He later pleaded guilty to a different, lesser charge of unlawful sex with a minor in order to avoid a trial and a lengthy prison sentence. After privately discovering that the judge hearing the case intended to reject the plea bargain and sentence him to prison, Polanski jumped bail and fled to France, where he is protected from extradition as a French citizen.
At least six other women have since accused Polanski of sexually assaulting them; most of these women claimed they were minors at the time of the alleged abuse. Polanski has denied these accusations.