Archive · 28 Jan 2026
Former French Senator Convicted of Drugging Lawmaker
A former French senator named Joel Guerriau was found guilty in a court in Paris.
He was accused of putting a drug called ecstasy in a lawmaker's drink to make her unable to resist him.
The lawmaker, Sandrine Josso, felt sick after drinking the champagne and left quickly.
The court believed Guerriau wanted to hurt her.
He was sentenced to four years in prison, but he can stay out of jail while he appeals the decision.
Guerriau's lawyer says they will fight the ruling, especially the part about his client wanting to assault Josso.
This case is important because it happened after another similar case in France that got a lot of attention.
Joel Guerriau, a former French senator, was convicted of drugging lawmaker Sandrine Josso with ecstasy to sexually assault her.
The court rejected the defense's claim that Guerriau may have accidentally given Josso the drug.
Guerriau was sentenced to four years in prison, with two-and-a-half years suspended, and will not go to jail pending his appeal.
Josso reported feeling unwell after drinking champagne provided by Guerriau and believed she would have been assaulted if she hadn't left.
The court inferred Guerriau's intent to assault from his behavior, insistence on Josso drinking the spiked champagne, and his internet searches about drugs and sexual assault.
- Who
- Joel Guerriau, a former French senator, and Sandrine Josso, a lawmaker
- What
- Guerriau was found guilty of drugging Josso with ecstasy to sexually assault her
- When
- The verdict was delivered on January 28, 2025
- Where
- The trial took place in Paris, France
- Why
- Guerriau intended to sexually assault Josso after drugging her
- Defendant
- Joel Guerriau
- Victim
- Sandrine Josso
- Crime
- Drugging with intent to sexually assault
- Sentence
- 4 years (2.5 suspended, deferred pending appeal)
- Drug Used
- Ecstasy
- Location
- Paris, France
- Date of Verdict
- January 28, 2025