FIRST OFF . . .

Breaking its silence on director Roman Polanski’s legal status, the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office has determined that Polanski still faces sentencing on a charge of unlawful sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old Woodland Hills girl, it was reported Wednesday. Polanski, 54, fled to Europe in January, 1978, rather than face sentencing on his guilty plea to the single charge of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor. The charge carries a possible three-year prison term. Los Angeles attorney Arthur Groman said he asked Dist. Atty. Ira Reiner about a month ago whether a deal could be struck to keep Polanski, who now lives in Paris, out of prison should he return to the United States. Groman, who does not represent Polanski, said the director’s new agent, Jeff Berg, had initially raised the subject with Reiner.