Dominique Boutonnat Given Three-Year Sentence For Sexual Assault, Quits As Head Of CNC
Dominique Boutonnat has been given a three-year prison sentence, one of which will be custodial, after being found guilty of charges of sexually assaulting his godson and has quit his role as head of France’s National Cinema Centre (CNC).
Per local media reports, Boutonnat will not serve time in jail but is expected to live under house arrest with an electronic bracelet for the custodial year.
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The court is reported to have concluded that the facts relayed in a hearing on June 14, went “particularly far in the context of a sexual assault”.
Boutonnat who has always denied the accusations, reaffirmed his innocence on leaving court and said he would be appealing the verdict and sentence.
Local media said Boutonnat had informed CNC staff of his decision to quit his post as head of the body, which oversees state film and TV funding. Current deputy general director, Olivier Henrard has been named acting president of the body until a permanent head is appointed.
The producer and CNC head was first placed under investigation in October 2020 after his godson filed a police complaint accusing him of sexual assault during a family holiday in Greece in August 2020. He was then indicted in February 2021.
Despite the charges hanging over him, Boutonnat remained in his role as head of the CNC and was reappointed for a second term in 2022 amid calls from the local film and TV industry for him to be suspended while legal action was underway.
Most recently French actress and MeToo activist Judith Godreche led a demonstration outside the CNC in Paris on the eve of this year’s Cannes Film Festival calling for Boutonnat to be suspended.
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