The former elected Montluçonnais Stéphane De Freitas appeared this Tuesday, October 5 before the criminal court of Montluçon (Allier) for corruption of a minor, possession of the image of a minor presenting a pornographic nature and illicit use of cocaine.
After nearly four hours of hearing, Stéphane De Freitas was found guilty of all the offenses for which he was being prosecuted.
A judicial investigation opened against the deputy mayor of Montluçon
Facts
It was following an anonymous denunciation in September 2018 that the case began. Stéphane De Freitas, then deputy in charge of the festivities in the city of Montluçon, would have maintained relations with minors and would have sexually harassed an adult.
An investigation and then an investigation are opened and the alleged victims are heard. In the end, Stéphane De Freitas will be prosecuted for the corruption of a single minor (14 years old at the beginning of the facts) as well as for the possession of the image of a minor (the same) presenting a pornographic character.
The former elected official is also being prosecuted for the use of narcotics, empty cocaine pouches having notably been discovered in his belongings during the various searches. An offense that the accused does not dispute.
L’audience
At the center of the debates during the hearing: a conversation on the Messenger social network, maintained from November 2016 until March 2018, between Stéphane De Freitas, 38 years old at the beginning of the facts, and a teenager then aged 14 , the son of a couple of friends. “How do you come to these exchanges with this boy”, asks the president. At the helm, Stéphane De Freitas says: “The conversation started when he had just broken up with a young girl. “
“He was wondering about him. He wanted to talk. I found myself in him. I saw myself when I was younger and I didn’t assume my bisexuality. I wanted to give him advice. “
Stephane de Freitas (warned)
–
He thus evokes a role of confidant with the young man.
“Yet there is nothing that looks like advice from an adult to a teenager,” said the magistrate. Because messages of a sexual nature as well as photos in particular of naked men are exchanged.
The president nevertheless concedes: “The minor was in demand. He sends you very raw messages and photos of the sexes of men. There are times when you answer him: “No, stop” … “Before clarifying:” But other times, you call him “My little pig” and answer with heart emojis. “Stéphane De Freitas recognizes that” the conversation was too far “, but ensures” never to have been attracted by a minor, nor to have had a relationship with a minor, nor even to have been interested “.
Stéphane De Freitas resigned from his post as municipal councilor of Montluçon
The public prosecutor also questions him on what earned him to be prosecuted for possession of child pornography images: “When you receive photos of this young person, you are fully aware that it is the sex of a minor. .. Why don’t you delete the photos? “” The only mistake I made was not telling his parents about it as soon as he started sending me these types of messages. “
The civil party
Me Dominique Machelon, lawyer for the teenager as well as his parents, maintains: “The thesis of the friend, the confidant with this young person in search of identity does not hold. The defendant tries to minimize the facts. We are not at all in the register of the confidant who helps a young person. We will say that the boy is not innocent, that he tickles him, but one was 14 years old, the other 38. “
Requisitions
The public prosecutor underlines the difficulty of the file.
“We have the feeling that we are not in a classic case of corruption of a pedophile nature. There is a kind of transfer. M. De Freitas has the impression of recognizing himself. But the adult he was should have cut the conversation short and not have an ambiguous relationship. “
District Attorney
–
A sentence of eighteen months of imprisonment entirely accompanied by a probationary suspension with obligation of care, to work, prohibition to come into contact with the victim as well as to exercise a professional activity in connection with minors, have thus been required. Its registration in the Automated Judicial File of Perpetrators of Sexual or Violent Offenses (Fijais) has also been requested.
–
The former deputy mayor of Montluçon Stéphane De Freitas referred to the criminal court
Defense
The defense lawyer, Me Bertrand Chautard, pleaded for acquittal as to the corruption of a minor and the possession of child pornography, offenses contested by Stéphane De Freitas.
“Two experts [Stéphane De Freitas a rencontré un psychiatre et un psychologue dans le cadre de l’instruction, NDLR] come to say that this man is not a pedophile. The sexual propositions came from the teenager. His reaction was not adapted but there is no minor corruption. “
decision
Stéphane De Freitas was finally found guilty and was given a suspended 12-month prison sentence. He will also be prohibited from exercising an activity related to minors for five years and will be registered with Fijais.
Laura Morel
– .
