An elderly French man has been charged with the rape and sexual assault of 89 teenagers in a mass abuse case that police allege spans many countries and dates back to the 1960s.
Jacques Leveugle, 79, who is in custody in south-east France, was arrested after his nephew found a USB that allegedly detailed his sexual relations with minors aged 13 to 17, the Grenoble prosecutor, Etienne Manteaux, told a news conference.
In an unusual move, authorities are naming the suspect to encourage potential victims to come forward. Out of the 89 assaults, only around 40 victims have been identified so far.
If victims wish to come forward, now is the time, Manteaux added.
Police allege the crimes occurred between 1967 and 2022, with Leveugle working as an informal teacher at various holiday camps throughout much of his life.
Authorities believe assaults took place not only in France but also in Germany, Switzerland, Morocco, Niger, Algeria, the Philippines, India, Colombia, and the French overseas territory of New Caledonia.
He travelled to these different countries and in each place where he taught, he would meet young people and have sexual relations with them, the prosecutor stated.
Leveugle was arrested in 2024 after visiting family in the Isère department. His nephew, suspicious of his uncle, discovered a USB drive containing detailed records of the alleged abuse and illicit activities.
The prosecutor highlighted that many victims reported that Leveugle had initially presented himself as a mentor, fostering their interest in foreign languages and culture, making the case even more disturbing.
Additionally, Leveugle has reportedly confessed to the murders of his own mother and aunt, carrying out these acts in a twisted justification that he hoped someone would do the same for him if he were in their position.
Authorities have launched a separate investigation into these alleged murders while emphasizing the importance of gathering comprehensive evidence of Leveugle's alleged crimes.
Historically, assaults that occurred before 1993 fall under France's statute of limitations, complicating potential prosecution for the oldest cases. However, investigators remain engaged in the pursuit of justice for all surviving victims.
