The mayor of Nazelles-Négron (Indre-et-Loire) has been indicted and remanded in custody for rape and sexual assault on minors, we learned on Tuesday from the public prosecutor of Tours.
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Richard Chatellier, mayor of this town of around 3,500 inhabitants near Amboise, "
has been indicted for charges of rape of a minor by a person in authority
", Grégoire Dulin told AFP.
"We interviewed a number of people who had been placed in foster care at the Chatellier couple's home, who revealed that they had been victims of acts when they were between 14 and 17 years old, between 2013 and 2021 »
Grégoire Dulin, public prosecutor of Tours.
The elected official, who with his wife hosted minors as a foster family, is also indicted for "
sexual assault on a minor under the age of fifteen, sexual assault on a minor over the age of fifteen by a person in authority, corruption of minors under fifteen and over fifteen, and intentional violence against vulnerable people
,” added the prosecutor.
Disputed facts in police custody
During his police custody, which began on April 6, Richard Chatellier "
challenged all the facts with which he is charged
", according to the magistrate who recalls the principle of the presumption of innocence.
The elected official was presented to the prosecution on Friday and placed in pre-trial detention "
in accordance with our requisitions
", added the prosecutor.
"
My client does not recognize any of the facts with which he is charged
," said his lawyer, Me Bertrand Ritouret, who regrets that "
throwing shame on a person who has so far been exemplary
".
Report leading to investigation
A judicial investigation was opened and the investigation was entrusted to the research brigade of the gendarmerie of Tours.
The investigation was launched following a report from the departmental council of Indre-et-Loire, informed by "
a minor placed that she had been the victim of acts of a sexual nature
" on the part of the mayor, according to the magistrate.
"
We interviewed a number of people who had been placed in foster care at the Chatellier couple's home, who revealed that they had been victims of acts when they were between 14 and 17 years old, between 2013 and 2021
,” added Grégoire Dulin.
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The mayor's wife, a childminder, was heard as a witness in the proceedings, but was not placed in police custody.
All the underage girls who have been placed in the couple's home will be heard by the investigating judge, according to the prosecutor.
