France detains local politician and former childcare worker on child‑pornography charges

A member of the ruling municipal council in Mazan, Vaucluse, was placed in provisional detention on 3 July 2026 after police alleged he possessed child‑pornographic images. The eight‑year‑old deputy, responsible for technical services and town cleanliness, was arrested while cycling near his home in Sault and will appear before the criminal court in Carpentras for a fast‑track hearing.

In a separate case, a 45‑year‑old former extracurricular animator from Carentan in the Manche department was convicted by the court of Coutances. More than 6,000 illegal files were seized from six computers and several external drives during a raid. He received a three‑year supervised judicial follow‑up, mandatory psychological treatment, a ten‑year ban on any work involving minors, and registration on the sex‑offender database.