WORLD
THE SUMTER ITEM
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2015
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D3
Roman Polanski ‘very happy’ with Polish court ruling BY MONIKA SCISLOWSKA The Associated Press WARSAW, Poland — Roman Polanski beat a U.S. attempt to extradite him as a Polish judge ruled that the nation’s law forbids sending the filmmaker back to the United States, where he pleaded guilty nearly four decades ago to having sex with a minor. “I can breathe now with relief,” the Oscar-winning director told reporters in Krakow, where the case was heard. “I pleaded guilty. I went to prison. I have done my penalty. The case is closed,” said the 83-year old director, who appeared thin and exhausted. Polanski also beat a U.S. attempt to extradite him from Switzerland more than a decade ago. Friday’s decision could finally close the case in Polanski’s favor. The Polish prosecutor who argued the case for extradition on behalf of the United States did not immedi-
ately say whether there would be an appeal. Judge Dariusz Mazur said the case was very complicated but an extradition procedure would violate the human rights of the elderly Polanski because he could be sentenced to confinement. “I find no rational answer to the question: what is the real point of the U.S. extradition request?” said Mazur, who spent more than two hours explaining his reasoning to the court in Krakow. Mazur said Polanski served his punishment in confinement in the U.S., and later for 10 months — partly under house arrest — in Switzerland in 2009-2010 when the U.S. unsuccessfully sought his extradition there. U.S. judges and prosecutors in the case violated legal procedures, broke the plea bargain in 1977, denied Polanski the right to proper defense and appeared biased, the judge found. Polanski was not in court
PUBLIC RECORD MARRIAGE LICENSES • Frank Elbert Byrd Jr. and Deborah Kelley Byrd of Viera, Florida • Dustin Thomas Branham and Ashley Annelle Dannelly • Deamonte Deon Galloway and Kierra Iman Coakley • Thomas Raymond Robinson and Kimberly Lyn Phillips • Jason Lee Grubbs and Hira Razzaq Mughal • Donald Miller Buford Jr. and Sandra Leigh Bolton • Carl Beard and Margo Katrina Fox of Dalzell • Franklin David Mahan and Amber Lacey Lee • Kendrell Jerrod Leonard and Jalesia Danielle Pearson • Latesha Nasha Lane and Chiquetta Latisha Johnson • Frank David Newmans III and Sarah Lynn Peavler • Esau Walker Jr. and Rawquesha Aonteona Williams of Columbia • Davien Keith Stewart of North Charleston and Stacey Sylvia Argabright • Brian James Milam of Lynchburg and Kristin Nicole Hostetler • Scott Richard Smith and Stephanie Erin Griffin • Joshua P.G. Mattingly and Tykia Lawaun Ransom, both of Dalzell • Timothy Linn Herbert and Sharlene C. Brown • Corey Allen Geddings and Christina Marie Fortier • Aaron Baxley Barbara of Woodruff and Elizabeth Elin Powell • Justin Robert Scarber and Courtney Rose Gaymon • Angela Renee Duff and Leanna Michelle Luckey • Joshua Legrand Geddings and Megan Marie Thomas, both of Turbeville • Daniel Singleton and Jacqueline Wright of Timmonsville • Thomas MacGregor Baillie and Chase Risqué McIntosh • Archie Leverne McKnight and Shanta Rene Wells, both of Dalzell • Shawn Douglas Custer and Deziree Nicole Jackson, both of Dalzell • Christopher Michael Cochran and Krystyn Monique Quinn
BUILDING PERMITS • Stuart Daly and Emily S. Ward, owners, Dylon Graham dba Graham Construction, contractor, 2301 Clematis Trail, $32,000 (flood damage to interior of home, residential). • Thomas W. and Wanda Myers Casker, owners, Dylon Graham dba Graham Construction, contractor, 2310 Clematis Trail, $6,600 (lower level great room flood damage, residential). • Mungo Homes Inc., owner and contractor, 1851 Talisker Drive, 1,696 heated square feet and 173 unheated square feet, $127,000 (new dwelling, residential); Mungo Homes Inc., owner and contractor, 84 Masters Drive, 2,877 heated square feet and 661 unheated square feet, $150,000 (new dwelling, residential); Mungo Homes Inc., owner and contractor, 2845 Bismuth Drive, 2,408 heated square feet and 628 unheated square feet, $141,000 (new dwelling, residential). • City of Sumter / Michael Geddin, owners, The Harper Corp. General Contractors, contractor, 675 Justin Lane, 12,000 heated square feet, $14,000,000 (new water plant, commercial). • Sumter County, owner, Harrington Construction Co. Inc., contractor, 2945 Airport Road, $815,441 (new airplane hanger — concrete and pre-engineered building, commercial). • Alex J. Etcheson, owner and contractor, 1739 Musket Trail, $7,400 (convert second floor bonus room into bed-
for the ruling, but followed live TV coverage of the proceedings. “I am glad that I have trusted Poland’s justice system,” Polanski told reporters. “Listening to the court today I was really moved because I had not imagined the judge would know the case in such detail, with all the dates quoted correctly. There was not one mistake.” Polanski’s attorneys had argued that the U.S. request was legally flawed and contended he had already served prison time under a plea-bargain deal with a Los Angeles judge. Polanski was initially charged on six felony counts, including rape by use of drugs, but was allowed to plead guilty in 1977 to one count of unlawful sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old girl during a photo shoot in Los Angeles. In exchange, the judge agreed to drop the other charges and sentenced him to prison for a 90-day psychiatric
room and bathroom, residential). • Donnie A. and Linda P. Hodge, owners, Rufus Turner dba Turner Vinyl Siding, contractor, 2120 Poole Road, $5,718 (vinyl siding and trim, residential). • Scott W. Rumph Jr., owner, Tung Son Ngo, contractor, 1101 Broad St., 2,396 heated square feet, $150,000 (tenant finish for restaurant in existing building — Moe’s, commercial). • Lee L. James, owner, Premier Homes of Sumter LLC, contractor, 7365 Claremont Lane, 2,029 heated square feet and 400 unheated square feet, $57,000 (completion of new dwelling, residential). • Herman and Frances Brown, owners, Herman Brown, contractor, 60 Olden Court, Wedgefield, 600 unheated square feet, $1,979.50 (patio cover over existing slab with shingle roof over structure, residential). • Sumter County B. Galloway, owners, Sam Avins Construction, contractor, 6070 Myrtle Beach Highway (6090), $2,850 (brick monument sign — fire department station 17, commercial); Sumter County B. Galloway, owners, Sam Avins Construction, contractor, 1185 Ronda St., $2,850 (brick monument sign — fire department station 17, commercial); Sumter County B. Galloway, owners, Sam Avins Construction, contractor, 1865 Nettles Road, $2,850 (brick monument sign — fire department station 17, commercial). • Francesca C. Lawson, owner, Alltech Sign Service, contractor, 1343 Peach Orchard Road, $2,000 (wall sign — Boost Mobile, commercial); Francesca C. Lawson, owner, Alltech Sign Service, contractor, 1343 Peach Orchard Road, $2,000 (freestanding sign — Boost Mobile, commercial). • Isabelle Burress, owner, James Miller Construction, contractor, 35 Harrell Road, $5,300 (new roof, residential). • Wayne Woods Jr., owner, Baxley’s Bestway Transportation, contractor, 4344 Queen Chapel Road, Dalzell (mobile home, residential). • Virginia Weaver, owner, James Robert Byrd Jr., contractor, 2365 Toxoway Drive, $2,000 (wood fence, residential). • Michael C. and Tami J. Nix, owners, James Robert Byrd Jr., contractor, 2625 Indigo Drive, $2,500 (ornamental fence, residential). • Jones Chevrolet, owner, Mathew Ward Landscapes, contractor, 1230 Broad St. (land disturbance, commercial). • Heirs of Clayton Lowder, owners, Jason Ross, contractor, 2915 Lowerlake Drive, $2,700 (subdivision sign / wall, commercial). • Dennis Roberts, owner, Harvey McDonald, contractor, 1397 Hidden Oaks Drive, Wedgefield (mobile homes, residential). • Charlotte Johnson, owner, Baxley’s Bestway Transportation, contractor, 30 Executive Circle, Dalzell (mobile home, residential). • Island Investments of Sumter, owner, G&S Sign Co., contractor, 2635 Hardee Court, $300 (wall sign — Edward Jones, commercial); Island Investments of Sumter, owner, G&S Sign Co., contractor, 2635 Hardee Court, $200 (wall sign alteration — Edward Jones, commercial). • Arthur F. Bradham, owner, Peach Orchard General Contracting LLC, contractor, 2 Law Range, $5,000 (repairs to brick / replace windows, commercial). • Clifton L. and Dottie K. Reynolds, owners, James Charles, contractor, 595 Canvasback Cove, 300 unheated square feet, $25,000 (add attached screen porch, residential). • Fred A. Carnes, owner and contractor, 4225 Thomas Sumter Highway, Dalzell, $4,230 (chain link fence, commercial). • Philip L. Lawrence and Johnson Ly, owners, James A. Dyson dba Aaron Dyson Construct, contractor, 26 Parker Drive, $4,000 (remove / replace shingles, residential). • Jesse E. McLeod dba Vestco, owner, J.
evaluation. Polanski was released after 42 days by an evaluator who deemed him mentally sound and unlikely to offend again. The California judge then said he was going to send Polanski back to prison for the remainder of the 90 days and that afterward he would ask Polanski to agree to a “voluntary deportation.” Polanski fled from the United States on Feb. 1, 1978, the day he was scheduled to be sentenced to the additional time. Mazur said Polanski had reason to believe then he would be put in prison for a longer time. An attorney representing Samantha Geimer, the victim in the case, said the ruling should close the case. “Both the judicial systems of Poland and Switzerland are able to do what the judicial system of the United States seems unable to do, and that is put the matter behind us,” said the attorney, Lawrence Silver.
Henry McLeod Jr. dba McLeod Landscaping, contractor, 1054 Belmont Drive, $2,950 (replace shingles / repair cornice, residential). • Dennis E. and Betty A. Taylor, owners, James A. Dyson dba Aaron Dyson Construct, contractor, 1125 Peppercorn Lane, 720 unheated square feet, $21,000 (detached garage, residential). • Lakewood Baptist Church of, owner, Jerry Crocker Signs, contractor, 3140 Nazarene Church Road, $4,500 (freestanding sign — Lakewood Baptist Church, commercial). • Regina Y. Shelton, owner, Shelwood China, contractor, 2685 Potomac Drive, $3,000 (reroof, residential). • Margaret K. Burch, owner, Shelwood China, contractor, 1385 Salterstown Road, $1,900 (reroof, residential). • Ben Earl Conyers, owner and contractor, 710 Deschamps Road (714), $240 (rails around porch and down steps, residential). • Staci A. Burnette and Yvon Wilkes, owners, Wilkes Builders, contractor, 709 Fawn Circle, 500 unheated square feet, $8,000 (detached garage, residential). • Louise Morais Neufville, owner, Monroe Construction Co. LLC, contractor, 909 Perry Blvd., $5,000 (reroof house, residential). • Pauline D. Bogger, owner, Robert Carter, contractor, 3330 Southernhills Drive, $3,500 (brick fence with wrought iron, residential). • City of Sumter, owner, City of Sumter Construction, contractor, 470 Green Swamp Road, $500 (chain link fence, commercial). • Larry D. and Susan B. Bass, owners, Wilkes Builders, contractor, 1310 Broadwater Drive, 420 unheated square feet, $13,000 (attached storage room / extend back porch, residential). • Benjamin P. Beaty, owner, America’s Home Place Inc., contractor, 145 Jefferson Road (125), 2,469 heated square feet and 581 unheated square feet, $210,833 (new dwelling, residential). • Gainey Construction Co. LLC, owner and contractor, 3415 Traditions Place, Dalzell, 1,375 heated square feet and 459 unheated square feet, $89,389 (new dwelling, residential); Gainey Construction Co. LLC, owner and contractor, 8 Ashley St., 1,375 heated square feet and 459 unheated square feet, $89,389 (new dwelling, residential); Gainey Construction Co. LLC, owner and contractor, 1349 Glastonbury Road, Knights Village, 1,319 heated square feet and 405 unheated square feet, $85,007 (new dwelling, residential); Gainey Construction Co. LLC, owner and contractor, 1355 Glastonbury Road, Knights Village, 1,375 heated square feet and 308 unheated square feet, $86,218 (new dwelling, residential). • Doris A. Morris, owner, Sears Home Improvement Products Inc., contractor, 245 Wildwood Ave., $1,991.53 (two window replacements, residential). • Tallis T. Yates III Estate, owner, Sears Home Improvement Products Inc., contractor, 4491 Lynnay Drive, Rembert, $13,209.84 (16 window replacements, residential). • Patricia A. Kirkland, owner and contractor, 1340 N. St. Pauls Church Road, 264 unheated square feet, $1,500 (enclose attached back porch, residential). • James E. and Lee Ann M. Pritchett, owners, Svetlik Construction Co., contractor, 2363 Gingko Drive, 744 unheated square feet, $70,000 (bedroom and bath addition, residential). • Geoffrey A. and Virginia B. Lawson, owners, Howard Wayne Rogers, contractor, 1062 Dover Circle, $3,900 (remove / replace shingles, residential). • Rhonda M. Green and T. Prude Mills, owners, John Brockington dba Brock Construction, contractor, 2305 Stadium Road, $2,346.82 (replace eight windows, residential). • Branch Banking & Trust Co. of, owner, Green Earth General Contractors LLC,
The Associated Press does not typically name sex abuse victims, but Geimer has publicly identified herself in court filings, interviews and a memoir, and has repeatedly called for the case against Polanski to be closed. “Our position on this matter remains the same,” said Shiara Davila-Morales, spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, which has continued to pursue Polanski. She said the agency would have no further comment. Polanski is a celebrity in Poland, and public opinion in his childhood country has been mostly in his favor. He won an Academy Award for best director for his 2002 film “The Pianist” and was nominated for 1974’s “Chinatown” and 1979’s “Tess.” Polanski’s movements are restricted by an Interpol warrant in effect in 188 countries, but he is avoiding extradition by remaining only in France, Poland and Switzerland.
contractor, 216 N. Main St., $230,514.12 (replace windows matching existing with lin glass, commercial). • Warren and Martha Gant, owners, Frank Gualberto Bermudez, contractor, 80 Annie Court, Dalzell, $3,680 (reroofing, residential). • Dexter Lee Properties LLC, owner, Larry E. Timmons, contractor, 10 Carrol Drive, $1,650 (change out three doors and close in three windows, residential). • Mark S. and Ernestine B. Wrigley, owners, Nunnery Roofing & Remodeling, contractor, 113 Winn St., $6,080 (remove and replace shingles on house, residential). • Scott H. Lee Jr. (as trustee of), owner, C&G Builders Inc., contractor, 1283 Broad St., $100,000 (interior remodel, commercial). • Everett L. Faulling, owner, Shelwood China, contractor, 2620 Stern Drive, 576 heated square feet, $15,000 (bedroom and bathroom addition, residential). • William N. and Betty M. Hopkins, owners, Madison Wade Culler dba Wade Culler Roof, contractor, 405 Henderson St., $6,508.46 (tear off and reroof, residential). • Anita C. Self, owner, Michael T. Parker, contractor, 5195 Benenhaley Road, Dalzell (mobile home, residential). • Becton Dickinson & Co., owner, Lynam Construction LLC, contractor, 1575 Airport Road, $1,386,570 (renovation of manufacturing area, commercial). • Carmel Development Partners, owner, Visual Concepts Signs & Lighting LLC, contractor, 1150 Peach Orchard Road, $5,200 (freestanding sign — O’Reilly Auto Parts, commercial); Carmel Development Partners, owner, Visual Concepts Signs & Lighting LLC, contractor, 1150 Peach Orchard Road, $3,000 (wall sign — O’Reilly Auto Parts, commercial). • Gayle S. Rubin (trustee) et al, owner, G&S Sign Co., contractor, 662 Butlman Drive (670), $700 (change face of sign — Silver Paper, commercial). • Murline S. and John E. Ingram, owners, Carolina Carports, contractor, 3975 Cottage Path, 756 unheated square feet, $1,825 (two open carports joined together — no walls, residential). • Harold C. Tindal, owner, Ralph Brown, contractor, 832 S. Main St. (mobile home, residential). • Percy B. and Marva L. Mitchell, owners, Cherokee Builders LLC, contractor, 3410 Deer Track Circle, Dalzell, $5,955.12 (detached storage building — 288 square feet, residential). • Paul M. and Nevelle T. Ouellette, owners, David M. Strother dba MBG Construction, contractor, 124 Lindley Ave., $7,638 (remove / replace shingles on house only, residential). • Ronald John Campbell, owner and contractor, 1565 Old Fords Drive, 1,400 unheated square feet, $10,000 (detached storage building, residential). • Wesmark Properties (a South Carolina partnership), owner, Richard Faddis Jr., contractor, 35 E. Wesmark Blvd. (15-35), $300 (wall sign — Midlands Vapor, commercial). • Gemima Salvador-Altamirano, owner, Harvey McDonald, contractor, 636 Boulevard Road (mobile home, residential). • Carla S. Ivey, owner, Baxley’s Bestway Transportation, contractor, 6715 Black River Road, Rembert (mobile home, residential). • Marvin C. Burress Jr., owner, Carolina Construction of Sumter LLC, contractor, 3440 Wedgefield Road, Wedgefield, 1,620 heated square feet and 564 unheated square feet, $105,864 (new dwelling, residential). • Antony Bennett, owner, Shelwood China, contractor, 6511 Frye Road, Rembert, $4,000 (reroof only, residential). • Cheryl Burrows Davids, owner, Hunter Builders, contractor, 1860 Florence Highway, $8,900 (vinyl siding / roof repair and shingles, residential).