French Prosecutors Launch Public Appeal in Vast Child Abuse Case Involving 89 Minors
In an extraordinary legal move, French prosecutors have issued a public call for witnesses following the formal charging of a former teacher with the aggravated rape and sexual assault of 89 minors. The alleged abuse spanned more than five decades across numerous countries, with authorities describing it as an unusually extensive and complex case.
Suspect Named Publicly to Encourage Victims to Come Forward
Prosecutor Etienne Manteaux confirmed that the suspect, Jacques Leveugle, a 79-year-old former educator born in 1946 in Annecy, was placed under formal investigation in 2024 and has remained in custody since. In a rare departure from standard French legal practice, prosecutors publicly identified the suspect to facilitate the emergence of additional victims.
"This name must be known because the aim is to enable potential victims to come forward," Manteaux stated during a press briefing in Grenoble. The decision underscores the gravity of the allegations and the urgent need for comprehensive evidence gathering.
Global Span of Alleged Abuse Across Multiple Continents
Investigators allege that Leveugle abused boys aged between 13 and 17 from 1967 to 2022 while working as a freelance teacher and instructor. His professional roles included teaching French and instructing speleology, the scientific study of caves.
The geographical scope of the alleged crimes is vast, encompassing:
- European nations: Germany, Switzerland
- African countries: Morocco, Algeria, Niger
- Asian territories: The Philippines, India
- South American location: Colombia
- French overseas territory: New Caledonia
Modus Operandi: Intellectual Seduction and Moral Coercion
According to prosecutor Manteaux, the suspect referred to himself as a "gentleman boy-lover" and specifically targeted teenage boys, whom he described using the ancient Greek term "ephebes" for adolescent males. Leveugle was characterized as "cultured and charismatic," employing intellectual seduction rather than physical violence against his victims.
"There was never any violence," emphasized Serge Procedes, commander of the Grenoble investigation unit. "We are really talking about moral coercion." This psychological manipulation approach allegedly enabled the prolonged pattern of abuse across decades and borders.
Investigation Triggered by Digital Evidence from USB Drives
The investigation commenced in 2022 after Leveugle's nephew provided authorities with USB drives containing writings compiled by the suspect. Prosecutors revealed that this digital material consisted of 15 volumes detailing alleged sexual relations with minors, enabling the identification of 89 victims to date.
Approximately 150 individuals have been interviewed during the investigation, though only two victims have chosen to pursue civil action. Many potential victims are referenced only by first names or nicknames in the evidence, creating significant challenges for investigators attempting to locate them decades after the alleged incidents.
Race Against Time Due to Statute of Limitations
The judicial investigation faces considerable time pressure due to the suspect's advanced age and statutory limitations. "This judicial investigation will have to be closed in 2026," Procedes noted, highlighting the urgency of gathering conclusive evidence within the legal timeframe.
Additional Confessions to Historical Homicides
During questioning, Leveugle reportedly confessed to killing two family members decades earlier. He admitted suffocating his terminally ill mother with a pillow in the 1970s and later suffocating his 92-year-old aunt in the 1990s.
Prosecutor Manteaux confirmed that the suspect's writings referenced having "killed two people," prompting authorities to open a parallel investigation into these confessions alongside the primary abuse case.
Authorities Urge Information from Public
French investigators have issued a direct appeal to anyone who believes they may have been victimized by the suspect or possesses relevant information to contact the investigation team. The public naming of the suspect represents a strategic effort to overcome the challenges posed by the case's international dimensions and temporal span.
The case continues to develop as authorities work to document the full extent of alleged abuses while navigating complex jurisdictional and evidentiary challenges across multiple countries and decades.
