The Montpellier Court of Appeal ordered, Thursday, August 14, the release under judicial supervision of a nursery school assistant suspected of rape and sexual assault on nine children from 3 to 4 years old, a lawyer for civil parties announced. Among the obligations of this judicial control are “In particular those of not being in contact with children and no longer residing in Hérault”said Marc Gallix after a short closed hearing.
Sleeping her innocence, this 59-year-old woman, who has worked since October 2024 as a specialized territorial agent for nursery schools in Vic-la-Gardiole (Hérault), had asked for her release on Tuesday before the Court of Appeal, two weeks after being indicted and placed in pre-trial detention.
Children’s parents “Will be stunned when I learned of this decision, I don’t know how they will react”said Marc Gallix, stressing that they are “Now forced to wait for the continuation of investigations” ordered by the investigating judge.
Tuesday, before the Court of Appeal, the civil parties and the prosecution had claimed its continued detention. For his part, the maternal assistant had denounced a “Plot”. His lawyer was not immediately reachable to comment on the decision of the Court of Appeal.
Five complaints in progress, according to a lawyer
The investigation began following the complaint filed by the families of two children in early July, which led to the administrative suspension on July 3 for the precaution of the maternal assistant by his employer, the town hall of Vic-la-Gardiole, commune located between Montpellier and Sète.
Judicial information was then opened on July 29 for rapes on minors aged 15 and sexual assault on minors aged 15 per person with authority. Presented to an investigating judge, the suspect had been indicted and imprisoned.
“The facts concerned concern acts of digital penetration and masturbation likely to have been committed” Out of nine children aged 3 to 4, said on July 31 in a statement the public prosecutor of Montpellier.
According to Marc Gallix, who represents the parents of a little girl, in addition to the nine civil parties already formed, there is “Five complaints in progress”what would do “About fifteen children” concerned.
