He was found crucified in a field.
The former mayor of Saint-Côme-du-Mont (Manche), Bernard Denis, was sentenced Wednesday to four months in prison for denunciation of imaginary crimes and offenses with obligation of care.
He also faces a fine of 7,500 euros.
Hospitalized, Bernard Denis was tried in his absence by the Coutances criminal court for having staged false attacks in 2022. He had notably denounced gunshots at his van, which he subsequently admitted to being the 'author.
The case had a national impact when he was found in a field, a few months later, his eyes and mouth covered with tape, two nails in each hand and one in each foot.
He had accused two men of having attacked him, accusing him of his support for Emmanuel Macron.
A staging, again.
Also read: Did the mayor of La Manche found “crucified” lie?
This conviction takes up the requisitions of prosecutor Gauthier Poupeau, who regretted that “the State does not have the right to recover its expenses”, namely 70,000 euros in investigation costs.
“It is a decision which partly corresponds to reality since my client himself admitted the facts”, declared the lawyer of the elected official, Aline Lebret, regretting the choice of the court to judge Bernard Denis in his absence .
Prosecuted for sexual exhibition
Psychiatrist experts described an alteration in the discernment of the former elected official, but not abolition, which is why he could have been judged guilty.
“His lack of esteem is compensated by a need to be recognized and loved”, estimated an expert, “victimizing himself protects him from collapse”.
Also prosecuted for sexual exhibition, Bernard Denis had initiated an appearance procedure on prior admission of guilt (CRPC) which was rejected on March 18 by the court so that the victim of the exhibition – an employee of the municipality – could be heard.
He will be tried on November 27 in this second case.
The plaintiff's lawyer, Me Marie Lunven, indicated that she wanted to request a reclassification of these facts as sexual assault, because they "occurred around ten times, while the victim was alone in a room" .
The counsel of the ex-mayor, Me Aline Lebret, argued that her client, who had attempted suicide in the fall of 2022, “initiated psychiatric and psychological care”.