French prosecutors have charged Jacques Leveugle, a 79-year-old former teacher, with aggravated rape and sexual assault involving 89 minors over a span of 55 years. The allegations detail crimes that took place in several countries including Germany, Switzerland, Morocco, and India, where he worked in diverse educational roles including as a French teacher and speleology instructor. The charges were announced by prosecutor Etienne Manteaux in Grenoble, who also expressed the need for any further witnesses or victims to come forward to provide more evidence.

Leveugle has been in custody since his indictment earlier in 2024, highlighting the severity of the allegations against him. The prosecutor’s decision to publicly name the suspect is seen as an effort to reach out for additional information and corroborative accounts which could assist in the ongoing investigation. The case underscores the alarming reality of historical sexual abuse in educational settings and raises questions about how such allegations were able to go unreported for decades.

The implications of this case extend beyond the specific charges against Leveugle, as it sparks a renewed conversation about the protections in place for minors worldwide and the systemic failures that have allowed such abuse to persist across different countries and educational frameworks. With victims potentially coming from diverse backgrounds, the case also reflects broader societal issues related to the safety of children in educational environments and the responsibility of institutions to safeguard their students from predatory behavior.