Former CNC president Dominique Boutonnat acquitted of sexual assault on appeal

The allegations

In August 2020, Dominique Boutonnat hosted his godson, then 21, on a Greek island. The young man later accused Boutonnat of coercing him into nude swimming, taking a photo, and forcing sexual acts including attempted masturbation. Boutonnat acknowledged only consensual kisses initiated by the godson and said he took a photo of the landscape, not the naked man.

First-instance conviction and resignation

In June 2024, the Nanterre correctional court found Boutonnat guilty, sentencing him to three years in prison with one year firm. He resigned from the CNC, the state body that among other tasks coordinates prevention of sexual violence in France's film industry.

Appeal and prosecution's stance

On 4 May 2026, the Versailles appeals court heard the case again. The prosecutor requested an identical sentence, arguing Boutonnat maintained a "posture of denial".

The acquittal

On 3 July 2026, the court acquitted Boutonnat of all charges. The presiding judge said the guilt of the alleged sexual assault had not been proven. She detailed inconsistencies in the godson's statements, and a court communiqué underscored that proof cannot rest solely on the plaintiff's declarations when the acts occurred in private.

The proof of the alleged acts cannot result solely from the plaintiff's statements, which must be compared with the defendant's and confronted with other evidence.

The guilt of the sexual assault acts charged against Dominique Boutonnat has not been established. Consequently, he is acquitted of all charges.

Aftermath

Boutonnat, present for the ruling, had previously expressed better understanding of his godson's "real suffering" while maintaining his innocence. The plaintiff, absent from the courtroom, and his lawyer have not yet commented.