Jean-Marc Morandini and Gironde Basketball Coach Definitively Convicted in Separate Child Exploitation Cases

The Cour de cassation on January 14, 2026, definitively upheld the conviction of French TV host Jean-Marc Morandini for corruption of minors, rejecting his appeal. Morandini, aged 60 and currently a presenter for CNews, was sentenced to two years in prison with a suspended sentence and fined €20,000. He is also permanently banned from working with minors and registered in the sexual offenders database. The conviction relates to his sending sexually explicit messages, including requests for nude photos and sexual scenarios, to three teenagers between 2009 and 2016. Additionally, Morandini was convicted in January 2025 of sexual harassment against a young actor during web series casting calls, receiving an 18-month suspended sentence; he is appealing this decision as well.

In a separate case in Gironde, a 35-year-old basketball coach was convicted for sexual assault and corruption of a minor involving a 15-year-old female player who was the team's captain. The court sentenced him to 12 months in prison with a suspended sentence over a two-year probation period. The offenses took place between 2022 and 2023 and involved both inappropriate physical contact, described by the court as a “hand on the buttocks” during a training camp, and sending sexually suggestive messages to the victim and another teammate. Alongside his prison sentence, the court imposed mandatory addictive behavior treatment, psychological follow-up, employment or training obligations, and a permanent ban from work involving minors. His name will be added to the national register of sexual and violent offenders, confirmed by prosecutor Loïs Raschel.

These rulings mark significant judicial actions against child exploitation in France involving high-profile and local figures, underscoring strengthened enforcement and societal intolerance towards such abuses.