French sculptor Claude Lévêque, 73, is set to face trial on serious charges of alleged sexual abuse and rape of minors. The trial will take place before the criminal court in Seine-Saint-Denis and includes accusations of rape of a minor, rape of a minor by someone in a position of authority, and sexual assault of a minor by someone in a position of authority. The alleged offenses are said to have occurred over nearly two decades, from 1989 to 2007, when the victims were between the ages of 8 and 18. The investigation began in 2023 after a complaint from sculptor Laurent Foulon, who claimed he was raped by Lévêque between the ages of 10 and 17 in the 1980s. Foulon reported the abuse in a letter to the prosecutor of Bobigny in February 2019. Two brothers from the Nièvre region, who knew Lévêque since childhood, have come forward as victims. The artist was even a witness at their parents' wedding. Their lawyer, Me Anastasia Pitchouguina, noted that the brothers are anxious about facing Lévêque and are hoping he will fully acknowledge the abuse without offering excuses or minimizing the severity of his actions. One of the brothers described "initiatory sessions" that began when he was around eight or nine years old, involving inappropriate touching, followed by masturbation and anal penetration. Me Antoine Aussedat, representing a third victim, expressed hope that the trial would allow the facts to be publicly discussed and that a "judicial truth" could be established through the exchanges during the proceedings. The organization Innocence en danger, which has joined the case as a civil party, is seeking honest testimony from Lévêque about how he used his power and influence to commit the abuse. According to the organization's lawyer, Me Mathias Darmon, they want the sculptor to take full responsibility for his actions. Meanwhile, Lévêque has appealed the decision to bring him to trial, according to the prosecutor of Bobigny. His legal team has not yet commented on the referral to the trial. The case has drawn significant public and legal attention, highlighting the long-term impact of abuse and the importance of justice for victims.