French Ex-Teacher Jacques Leveugle Faces Charges for Alleged Abuse of 89 Minors Across Nine Countries
In a shocking international case, Jacques Leveugle, a 79-year-old former French educator, has been formally charged with the aggravated rape and sexual assault of 89 teenagers. The allegations span an extensive period from 1967 to 2022 and involve victims across nine different countries, highlighting a decades-long pattern of abuse.
Details of the Allegations and Investigation
According to Grenoble prosecutor Etienne Manteaux, Leveugle allegedly exploited his role as an informal teacher and tutor to gain access to minors. He would travel to various nations, settling in each location to provide language tutoring and cultural education, which prosecutors say he used as a cover to meet and abuse young people aged 13 to 17.
The countries implicated in the investigation include:
- France
- Germany
- Switzerland
- Morocco
- Niger
- Algeria
- Philippines
- India
- Colombia
- New Caledonia (a French overseas territory)
Police reports indicate that the victims described Leveugle as someone who spent considerable time helping them learn foreign languages and awakening their cultural awareness, which added a layer of complexity to his alleged predatory behavior.
Arrest and Evidence Discovery
The case came to light in October 2023 when Leveugle's nephew, growing suspicious, examined a USB drive belonging to the accused while he was away. The drive reportedly contained what Manteaux described as "15 tomes of very dense material" – including photographs and written accounts detailing sexual relations with minors.
Leveugle was arrested in Morocco, where he was residing at the time, after traveling to the Isère region near Grenoble to visit his brother. The evidence from the USB drive played a crucial role in the investigation, leading to his formal charges in 2024, with prosecutors announcing the details publicly on February 10, 2026.
Additional Allegations of Homicide
During questioning, Leveugle allegedly admitted to two separate homicides. Prosecutors state that he confessed to killing his terminally ill mother in 1974 and his 92-year-old aunt in 1992, both by suffocation. A separate judicial investigation has been initiated to look into these alleged killings, adding another grim dimension to the case.
Legal Challenges and Statute of Limitations
Under French law, alleged sexual assaults that occurred before 1993 fall outside the statute of limitations and cannot be prosecuted. However, prosecutors emphasize that establishing the full scope of the crimes remains critically important for historical accuracy and potential civil proceedings. The charges focus on incidents from 1993 onward, but the investigation aims to document all alleged abuses to provide a complete picture of Leveugle's actions over the decades.
This case underscores the severe implications of cross-border crimes and the challenges in prosecuting historical abuse, while also raising awareness about the vulnerabilities of minors in educational settings worldwide.
