Joël Guerriau: 3 Years Prison Requested for Drugging Sandrine Josso

Former Senator Joël Guerriau was sentenced to four years in prison, with 18 months suspended, on Tuesday, January 27, for drugging Representative Sandrine Josso without her knowledge in November 2023. The case underscores the growing concern over “chemical submission” as a form of assault.

Josso expressed relief following the court’s decision, and Guerriau is now prohibited from contacting her.

Guerriau’s lawyer announced his client intends to appeal the ruling, which would suspend the sentence pending the outcome of the appeal.

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Joël Guerriau received a four-year prison sentence, with 18 months to be served immediately and 30 months suspended.

The court also issued a deferred arrest warrant for Guerriau but did not order its immediate execution.

The hearing is expected to resume shortly. Sandrine Josso is seated with her attorney, and Joël Guerriau is also present in the courtroom with his lawyer.

Joël Guerriau thanked the judge for conducting the proceedings. The hearing has been suspended, with a decision expected later today.

Joël Guerriau stated he was “devastated” by the prosecutor’s statements and conclusions, maintaining he “never intended to harm Madame Josso.”

He added, “I am crushed, I don’t know what else to say,” speaking in a low voice.

“There is not enough evidence to establish” any of the alleged offenses, argued Marine Roumiantseva, Guerriau’s attorney. “I am deeply sorry for her, but that does not mean a crime has been committed.” She requested Guerriau’s acquittal.

The defense’s closing argument has concluded, and the floor now returns to Joël Guerriau.

Marie Roumiantseva, another of Guerriau’s attorneys, reviewed the facts, emphasizing “the absence of any attempt at seduction between the defendant and the plaintiff.” She cited forensic analysis of Guerriau’s phone and computer as evidence.

The attorney stated that over 6,000 interactions occurred between Sandrine Josso and Joël Guerriau’s phones over an 18-month period.

Marie Roumiantseva pleaded for Joël Guerriau’s acquittal on both charges against him.

“We are not asking the judicial system to make Joël Guerriau the symbol of chemical submission,” stated Henri Carpentier, another of Guerriau’s attorneys. His closing argument concluded, and the floor passed to Marie Roumiantseva, who also represents Guerriau.

Carpentier addressed the invitation, stating, “He knew she was coming for a very short time.” He continued, “He knew she was expected by her group… would he risk administering this substance to assault her?”

The attorney attacked Sandrine Josso’s testimony regarding Guerriau’s clothing on November 14, 2023. Josso had described him wearing “jogging pants,” an unusual choice for him.

“Would the sexual intent of Mr. Guerriau be revealed by his clothing?” the attorney asked. “That’s not serious.”

The attorney also discussed messages exchanged between Josso and Guerriau, suggesting some of Josso’s messages were ambiguous due to the use of “heart emojis.”

The attorney reviewed the timeline of events, stating that Guerriau’s internet searches were conducted “before the invitation was even extended.”

“Why didn’t he do it the day before the party?” the attorney questioned. “Why didn’t he repeat those searches?”

He also addressed deleted searches, stating, “Yes, they were deleted, like others. The forensic report doesn’t tell us how they were deleted.”

The attorney argued these searches did not demonstrate “sexual intent” on Guerriau’s part.

“This story about a bag does not have the probative value necessary for a criminal demonstration.” In other words, “this story about the bag proves nothing,” the attorney said.

“Ms. Josso saw a plastic bag, that’s all. The story of the white bag doesn’t hold up,” the attorney continued, pointing to inconsistencies in Josso’s statements – describing a plastic bag or two plastic bags.

The hearing resumed after a suspension. Henri Carpentier, Joël Guerriau’s attorney, began his closing argument.

The prosecutor requested a three-year prison sentence with a deferred arrest warrant, one year of probation with a two-year suspended sentence including mandatory treatment, a ban on contacting Sandrine Josso, and restitution for the victim.

The prosecutor also requested a five-year ineligibility for holding office and inclusion in the sex offender registry.

The prosecutor requested a deferred arrest warrant with provisional execution of the probationary measures and ineligibility.

More information is available here.

The prosecutor reiterated: “In this case, the sexual intent seems absolutely obvious.” He reviewed Guerriau’s internet searches the day before the incident.

“He administered drugs to Ms. Josso with the intent to abuse her,” Benjamin Coulon stated.

The prosecutor turned to the second charge, stating that Joël Guerriau was guilty of “administering to a person, without their knowledge, a substance capable of impairing their judgment or control of their actions for the purpose of committing rape or sexual assault.”

He added, “The absence of gestures or sexually suggestive remarks does not mean that this offense did not occur.”

The prosecutor addressed Guerriau’s refusal to name the person who provided him with the MDMA. “If I gave the name, she would deny it. And that would reignite the debate about an institution to which I am very attached,” Guerriau had said.

“The credibility is already damaged. Why not say where the product came from? Why? To prevent investigations, what else? To prevent confirmation or denial of Joël Guerriau’s statements,” the prosecutor believes.

The prosecutor noted that the court was considering reclassifying the charges.

“In my opinion, if you consider these facts established, if you believe he knew the nature of the product, only possession charges are warranted,” he explained. “Because, it is obvious that Mr. Guerriau did not consume MDMA.”

He added, “It is inconceivable that he did not know the nature of the product found at his home.”

“When you put all the elements together, the reality is that Mr. Guerriau knew about the MDMA, and the truth is that he intentionally intoxicated Ms. Josso for sexual purposes,” the prosecutor said.

The prosecutor was struck by Guerriau’s initial statement to police.

“On the same page of the interrogation, he said he put the product in the glass a week earlier, then the day before, then he didn’t know anymore,” he said.

“In reality, this first interrogation is the prototype of a defendant adjusting his story,” the prosecutor asserted.

The prosecutor believes Guerriau was “fabricating” his explanations during the initial interrogation.

Sandrine Josso did not take her eyes off Benjamin Coulon, the prosecutor. He began with Guerriau’s arrest “in a bar” for failing to appear at the police station.

He then discussed the blood tests of Sandrine Josso, which revealed a high dose of MDMA.

“Incriminating evidence” accumulated “in just a few hours” against Joël Guerriau.

Today, “we are debating the words of Joël Guerriau, which have constantly changed,” he emphasized.

The prosecutor pointed to “the particular behavior” of Joël Guerriau on the night of the incident. He mentioned his magic tricks. “He played with the light… a behavior that raises questions.” He described the topics of conversation as “surprising.”

During her initial statement, Sandrine Josso mentioned a conversation that had concerned her. Guerriau had asked her if she ever did things “out of conscience or pleasure.”

He discussed the initial symptoms of Sandrine Josso, the plastic bag containing powder.

“She demonstrated remarkable strength of character,” the prosecutor said, recalling Josso’s quick departure from Guerriau’s apartment without revealing her symptoms.

“In a few hours, the heart of the case was revealed” by the investigation. The prosecutor’s rebuttal continued.

He discussed the complaint filed by Sandrine Josso, as well as a text message she sent to the senator on November 10, 2023 – several days before the party.

In the message, she asked him about the evening’s plans. Guerriau did not respond, contacting her again on the day of the party, November 14, 2023.

The prosecutor was struck by another statement made by Joël Guerriau during yesterday’s hearing.

“He said that if he had been better informed about the dangers of the product, things would have been different,” the prosecutor recounted.

However, Guerriau maintains he did not intend to harm Josso, claiming the entire incident was “unintentional.”

“He took the opportunity of this trial to urge the public to be better informed about the dangers of chemical submission. That’s an extremely paradoxical position.”

The prosecutor revisited Joël Guerriau’s testimony from the previous day.

“He said he supported Ms. Josso in her fight against chemical submission,” the prosecutor said. “What I believe is that the conviction of Joël Guerriau at the end of this trial will best serve the cause against chemical submission.”

Arnaud Godefroy, Sandrine Josso’s attorney, emphasized the consistency of her statements since the night of November 14, 2023.

“She has always been consistent, as much as one can be after such a traumatic event. She has always said where the product was – in the kitchen,” he said. “She has always said it must have been at the restaurant and not at his home.” He referenced the exchanges between the representative and the senator.

The closing argument concluded, and the floor passed to the prosecutor.

“He is lying about his emotional state… he is also lying about his knowledge of the product.” Godefroy listed Guerriau’s alleged lies.

“He is lying about a lot of things because he is uncomfortable. He is uncomfortable because MDMA represents 22% of the drugs used in chemical submission,” he stated.

“The drug used daily for chemical submission is MDMA,” the attorney continued, referencing Guerriau’s internet searches a month before the November 14, 2023, party.

“He is lying about his intent.” The attorney for Sandrine Josso addressed the “central issue” in the case.

“The context is as follows: Mr. Guerriau, who has never been aggressive, no one has said that, acted like anyone who drugs a girl. He put powder in the glass while waiting for the drug to take effect.”

This is why, according to the attorney, Joël Guerriau stared intently at Sandrine Josso and played with the lighting.

“He lied about his emotional state… he lied about his knowledge of the product.” Godefroy listed Guerriau’s alleged lies.

“He is lying about a lot of things, because he is uncomfortable. He is uncomfortable, because the MDMA, that represents 22% of the drugs used in chemical submission,” the attorney reminded the court.

“The drug used daily for chemical submission is the MDMA,” the attorney continued, referencing the various internet searches conducted by Joël Guerriau a month before the evening of November 14, 2023.

Closing arguments began. Arnaud Godefroy, Sandrine Josso’s attorney, took the floor.

“Chemical submission is not an act of seduction,” Godefroy stated.

“The essential thing in this case is that Joël Guerriau is lying. He lied yesterday… he lied to his family,” the attorney continued. “He also lied about his feelings, his depressive state at the time of the facts.”

The hearing will resume at 1:30 PM. Sandrine Josso and Joël Guerriau have not yet arrived in the courtroom.

Today marks the end of the trial, which began yesterday. The attorney for the plaintiff is expected to speak first, followed by the prosecution’s recommendations and the defense’s closing arguments.

This final day of the hearing is taking place in a different courtroom at the Paris Judicial Tribunal.

While the former senator is being tried for “administering a substance capable of impairing judgment with the intent to commit sexual assault or rape,” the judge announced Monday evening that the court was considering reclassifying the charges to “administering an illicit substance resulting in more than eight days of incapacity.”

If this occurs, it would mean the court ultimately rejects any intention to commit a sexual offense on the part of Joël Guerriau on the night in question.

Representative Sandrine Josso testified earlier, recounting the events of the evening and describing how she “felt herself drifting away” after drinking a few sips of the champagne served by Joël Guerriau.

“I thought about my children, I called a colleague, I told him I was going to die, that Joël had put something in my glass,” she said Monday.

She also stated she felt “betrayed” by Joël Guerriau, whom she had trusted. “I want the truth to come out, that’s important to me, and to say what I went through.”

The former senator was extensively questioned during the opening of his trial yesterday afternoon.

For nearly five hours, he defended himself against accusations of wanting to drug Sandrine Josso, despite internet searches conducted a few days before the incident linking the words “drugs” and “rape.”

To explain the high level of MDMA found in the representative’s system, he claimed the powder ended up in the glass because he intended to consume it the night before but changed his mind. He stated he was depressed at the time.

Good morning. Welcome to our live coverage of the second and final day of Joël Guerriau’s trial in Paris.

The former senator is accused of drugging Representative Sandrine Josso without her knowledge on an evening in November 2023, a charge he has denied throughout the proceedings.

The hearing will resume at 1:30 PM.