Kevin (first name has been changed) kept his head down throughout the hearing, his hands clasped in front of him, his shoulders hunched. Blushing. Embarrassed.
The 21-year-old will have to explain himself before a Meaux criminal court this Friday about images and videos of child pornography found on his cell phone. He also had to explain why he hooked up with a 14-year-old girl on a social network… by pretending to be a schoolgirl of the same age. Not to mention he had to commit the same criminal act again against a six year old girl.
The crux of the debate: his addiction to masturbation, his inability to form social relationships… and his possible pedophile tendencies. “At first I watched pornography with mediocre content. My needs increased. I watched videos with small adults,” he explained in a low voice.
And struggled to continue: “And then, I looked for less legal content, through Telegram. I had joined some kind of group. I told myself that just looking at it was okay. At first, they were just teenagers. And as time went on, I got older. »
“This is filmed rape of children! »
President Marie Troussard had to repeat what all the judges have said to the defendants charged for possessing such images and videos: “This is a recording of the rape of children!
The judge again pressed him, on the teenagers, to get their naked photos: “These young girls don’t know much. They’re getting photos of men’s erect penises, their brains aren’t necessarily ready,” he said.
Kevin pretended not to understand: “I didn’t force them, I asked them.” Hence this question from the president: “Consent, do you believe that it is free and informed at the age of 14? » The response of the person concerned: “I don’t know. »
“Irresistible photos and videos”
And one day, while he was lying on the sofa with his uncle’s stepdaughter, a six-year-old girl, he had a strange idea: namely to masturbate with the child’s feet. “Since I had never done anything with anyone, I jumped at the opportunity. »
The only detail worth appreciating: he told this incident to investigators, the girl does not remember it. Kevin assured him, custody and confiscation of his equipment brought him relief: “I said to myself: it’s over. I no longer need to do it, think about it. »
Prosecutor Noémie Béguin recalls these edifying figures: “More than 600 babies will be admitted to medical-judicial units in 2024 due to acts of sexual violence. These facts are not isolated cases, but are part of a systemic sexual violence. »
The prosecutor asked for three years in prison, including 18 months, accompanied by socio-judicial monitoring for a period of five years: “We are talking about 778 unbearable photos and videos. The defendant was involved in abuse carried out for the pleasure of adults. » The judge also asked for a warrant of deferred commitment for the young man, who was free at trial.
Registration in the file of sexual offenders
For several months, Kevin had a similar job and social life. He respected her judicial control, particularly by initiating psychological follow-up. Maybe this time he will talk about the sexual harassment perpetrated by his classmates on the school playground, when he was in sixth grade, in front of other students.
His lawyer asked for “a sentence that is beneficial to him and to society.” That is caring. I Audrey Sagory returned to the immense shame and guilt felt by her client: «His reflective work must continue. My only belief is that this work will not be done in prison, even if there is a great temptation to send him there. »
The judge sentenced the defendant to three years in prison, one of which will be permanent, of which he will serve an electronic bracelet, as well as social and judicial supervision for three years. He will be listed on the automatic judicial docket for perpetrators of sexual or violent offenses (Fijais) “We must always know where you are,” the president reminded him.
