Roman Polanski fled the United States 40 years ago because he feared a Los Angeles judge would send him to prison for years after he admitted having sex with a 13-year-old girl.

The filmmaker, who found refuge in Europe, has renewed his legal effort to be allowed back in California with no more jail time so he can resume his movie-making career. His lawyers argue Polanski has been punished enough.

Polanski entered a guilty plea to having sex with an underage girl as part of a plea agreement in 1977. The prosecutor dropped the rape allegation and other charges in the deal. Polanski was ordered to stay in custody for 45 days for a psychiatric evaluation.

But Polanski learned the judge had changed his mind about not imposing addition prison time, prompting the director to flee the country for France.

His victim, who is now in her 50s and has three children, has insisted for years that the Los Angeles district attorney should drop the case.

Nancy Grace and Alan Duke debate Polanski’s case in this episode of “Crime Stories.”

[Feature Photo: AP/Alik Keplicz, File]