Man sentenced for child sexual abuse

A 24-year-old man was sentenced on Friday, October 16, to three years in prison with a suspended sentence for sexually assaulting two three-year-old children at a kindergarten in the 20th arrondissement of Paris. The court emphasized the children's detailed and consistent accounts of the abuse and the accused's repeated denial of the allegations.

Private hearings against victims' wishes

The Correctional Court of Paris ordered hearings to be held in private on September 1, despite the wishes of the victims' families. This decision was made in accordance with the accused's request, citing the need to maintain the calm of the proceedings and the dignity of the accused and third parties.

Incidents at Grands-Champs kindergarten

The incidents occurred at the kindergarten of the Grands-Champs, near the Place de la Nation. According to the Paris prosecutor's office, the parents of a girl filed a complaint on September 30, 2025, after she told them that the "husband of the teacher" had "touched her buttocks while she was in the toilet."

Additional complaints and concerns

The mother of a young boy filed another complaint in November 2025, also for inappropriate touching. Several parents had previously expressed concerns about seeing or hearing their children report having seen the teacher's companion at the school on multiple occasions, with "sexualized behaviors or comments" toward their children.

Broader scandal in Parisian after-school care

Although the man sentenced on Friday was not employed in the Parisian after-school care, the schools in the capital have been shaken for several months by a scandal of sexual violence against minors. Since the beginning of 2026, 195 after-school care workers have been suspended, including 74 for suspected sexual violence against minors, according to the latest figures from the city hall.

Ongoing investigations and systemic issues

On the criminal side, more than 230 investigations are ongoing in the schools and daycares of the capital. A Senate report published on Thursday, following a four-month investigation, states that the "systemic dysfunctions" of the Parisian after-school care reveal weaknesses throughout the country.

Conditions of the suspended sentence

During the three years of probation to which he will be subject, the convicted man, who has 10 days to appeal, will be subject to a psychological care obligation and will be prohibited from going to the school and the Grands-Champs street. He is also prohibited for 10 years from practicing a profession or a voluntary activity involving regular contact with minors.

Financial and legal consequences

Convicted of a total of 15,000 euros in damages and interest and registered in the registry of perpetrators of sexual or violent offenses (FIJAISV), the man faces long-term restrictions on his personal and professional life.