A 79-year-old French man, identified by French prosecutors as Jacques Leveugle, has been charged with numerous counts of rape and sexual assault against 89 minors spanning nearly six decades and multiple countries, authorities in Grenoble, France announced on 10 February 2026. The suspect, a former teacher who worked intermittently in France and abroad despite lacking formal qualifications, was detained after his nephew alerted police, finding documents on a USB drive in which the man allegedly recorded abusive encounters with children aged 13 to 17 in places including Algeria, Switzerland, Germany, Niger, the Philippines, India, Colombia and New Caledonia. Only around 40 of the identified victims have so far been contacted, prompting magistrates to launch a public appeal for witnesses and victims to come forward. 

According to the Grenoble prosecutor’s office, the alleged crimes span from 1967 to 2022 and involve sexual assault and rape of minors. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are urging other potential victims to step forward to assist with establishing the full scope of the offences. Leveugle has been placed in custody as prosecutors build their case.