Dominique Boutonnat, the head of France’s top cinema institute, was sentenced on Friday to three years in prison, including a two-year suspended sentence, after he was found guilty of sexually abusing his godson in 2020.
In a statement released shortly after the verdict, Boutonnat announced he was resigning as head of the National Center of Cinema (CNC), whose role includes overseeing measures to prevent sexual violence in the industry.
The Nanterre criminal court outside Paris said he would be able to serve his one-year prison sentence at home wearing an electronic bracelet. Boutonnat, 54, has also been banned from having any contact with the victim for three years.
In its ruling, the court stated that “the plaintiff’s statement is more credible” than that of Boutonnat, who, according to the court, always had a “real influence” on his godson.
In a statement released by the CNC, Boutonnat “affirmed his innocence” and said he would appeal.
Boutonnat’s godson has accused her of trying to masturbate him while on vacation in Greece in 2020 when he was 19.
In court, the young man described Boutonnat as “more than a godfather.”
He said, “Someone is using me for masturbation.”
Boutonnat has denied any sexual assault. She has said in court that it was her godson who initiated the situation and kissed her on the mouth.
“I feel bad about stepping out of an ambiguous situation, but to say that sexual assault occurred is incorrect,” he told the court.
He was investigated in February 2021 but was nevertheless reappointed by the government as the head of the CNC in July 2022.
“This case is a perfect example of sexual harassment,” said Caroline Toby, the victim’s lawyer, adding that the court recognised “an abuse of power”.
On June 14, the public prosecutor requested a three-year suspended prison sentence for Boutonnat.
The trial comes at a time when the #MeToo movement is gaining momentum again in French cinema, with several big names, including actor Gerard Depardieu, being accused of sexual abuse.
Activists had denounced Boutonnat’s leadership at the National Center of Cinema (CNC).
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
