Paris Alphonse‑Baudin daycare case: Court acquits accused activity leader

Paris – 07.07.2026: The criminal court in Paris has acquitted a former activity leader of the municipal Maternelle Alphonse‑Baudin in the 11th arrondissement of the charge of sexual assaults on several children. According to the court, there was serious doubt about the criminal classification of the presented facts. The man was suspended from duty after the allegations became known. No prison sentence was imposed.

The proceedings focused on testimony from parents and caregivers, educational and psychological assessments, and the reconstruction of contacts during the afternoon care. At the hearing on May 26, the public prosecutor’s office had requested three years’ imprisonment, part of it under electronic monitoring. The chamber did not follow the request and justified the acquittal with the high burden of proof in criminal law: without sufficient certainty about the course of events and the legal characterization of the acts, a conviction is not possible.

The decision caused palpable tension in front of the Palais de Justice and around the school. Representatives of parents’ initiatives expressed disappointment and demanded reliable structures that better protect children in care situations. Legal observers reminded that an acquittal affirms the presumption of innocence and does not replace a moral judgment. At the same time, they emphasized the particular difficulty of such proceedings, in which conflicting testimony situations and sensitive statements by children require a careful weighing of evidence.

According to the investigation files, the allegations brought to trial are said to have occurred between the start of the 2024 school year and April 2025. The accused had been taken off duty after a report by the school administration. The Paris public prosecutor’s office examined filing an appeal following the decision to have a higher court review the legal assessment of the evidence.

The case is part of a series of investigations in Paris’s periscolaire (out-of-school care) sector. In recent months, investigations have been launched in several dozen institutions, some staff have been suspended, and internal procedures have been tightened. The city administration announced additional training, closer supervision, standardized reporting steps, and expanded points of contact for parents. Officials in the education sector said that clear documentation obligations and faster information flow between schools, providers, and the judiciary are central to checking reports early and protecting children.

The situation remains stressful for affected families. Experts recommend offering low-threshold psychological support and stabilizing class and care teams to regain trust. Whether the legal phase is therefore closed depends on the further actions of the public prosecutor’s office. If an appeal is filed, an appellate court would re-examine the legal classification and the assessment of the evidence.