French Prosecutors Charge Former Educator with Decades-Long Abuse of 89 Minors
In a shocking development from France, prosecutors have formally charged a 79-year-old former educator with aggravated rape and sexual assault involving 89 minors, with the alleged crimes spanning an astonishing more than five decades and occurring across multiple countries worldwide.
Public Naming and Urgent Appeal for Witnesses
Speaking to reporters in the southeastern city of Grenoble on Tuesday, public prosecutor Etienne Manteaux revealed that the accused, Jacques Leveugle, was formally charged in 2024 for offences allegedly committed between 1967 and 2022. In a rare and significant procedural step, the prosecutor publicly named the suspect and issued an urgent appeal for possible witnesses and additional victims to come forward to assist the ongoing investigation.
Leveugle, who was born in 1946 in the Alpine town of Annecy, has been in custody since his indictment, according to Manteaux. The prosecutor emphasized the gravity of the case and the importance of gathering all available evidence to ensure justice is served.
Global Span of Alleged Crimes
According to detailed information from the prosecution, the alleged sexual crimes took place in numerous countries where Leveugle worked over the years as a freelance teacher and instructor. The extensive list of locations includes:
- Germany
- Switzerland
- Morocco
- Niger
- Algeria
- The Philippines
- India
- Colombia
- New Caledonia (a French overseas territory)
During this extensive period, Leveugle held various professional roles, including teaching French and working as an instructor in speleology, which is the scientific study and exploration of caves. This mobility across continents allowed him access to vulnerable minors in different cultural contexts.
Digital Evidence and Victim Identification
Investigators identified at least 89 alleged victims based on comprehensive written records compiled by the accused himself on a USB drive. The digital documents, described by prosecutors as forming a collection of "15 volumes," refer to what Leveugle described as "sexual relations" with minors aged between 13 and 17 years old.
The USB drive was reportedly discovered by Leveugle's nephew, who had grown increasingly concerned about his uncle's emotional and sexual life. This material became a crucial component of the investigation, providing detailed accounts that prosecutors are now using to build their case.
Confession to Additional Homicides
During intensive questioning by authorities, Leveugle also confessed to killing two family members decades earlier, according to the prosecution. He admitted to suffocating his mother, who was terminally ill with cancer, with a pillow in the 1970s. Additionally, he confessed to killing his 92-year-old aunt in the 1990s by suffocating her with a pillow while she was asleep.
Manteaux noted that in Leveugle's personal writings, which he described as "memoirs," the accused had explicitly stated that he had "killed two people." These admissions add another layer of severity to an already complex and disturbing criminal profile.
Ongoing Investigation and Public Appeal
Authorities have confirmed that the investigation is continuing actively and have made a renewed appeal to anyone with relevant information or who may have been a victim to contact investigators immediately. The prosecution's decision to publicly name Leveugle underscores their commitment to uncovering the full extent of his alleged crimes and ensuring that all affected individuals have an opportunity to seek justice.
The case highlights significant challenges in prosecuting international sexual crimes that span multiple jurisdictions and decades, while also raising important questions about safeguarding mechanisms in educational and institutional settings worldwide.
