Cognac baby-sitter sentenced to four years in prison for abusing eight-month-old infant, Digi Mart USA News (Cognac, Charente, France): A 23-year-old baby-sitter was sentenced Thursday, November 5, 2026, by the Angoulême court in Charente to four years in prison, including one year suspended with probation, for abusing and filming an eight-month-old infant in Cognac during the summer of 2026.
Between July 31 and August 28, 2026, the baby-sitter struck the child, deprived him of food and attempted to suffocate him while he was in her care. Fifteen videos recorded by the defendant herself documented the incidents.
The parents began to worry after discovering bruises on their son’s face, and the abuse then stopped. The suspect was taken into custody and placed in pretrial detention at the beginning of September.
She had no prior criminal record, and a psychiatric evaluation did not identify any trauma that could explain her behavior.
At the hearing, the defendant appeared withdrawn and answered questions with difficulty. Asked about her actions, she cited a period of exhaustion and sleep deprivation, explaining that she also looked after her nieces at night.
These statements did not explain why she abused the infant or why she filmed the incidents.
The child’s mother, who had known the defendant since middle school and entrusted her son to her, described the lasting effects on the boy. According to her testimony, he now suffers from nightmares and terrors and does not tolerate being touched on the face.
The grandmother, present with the parents, also expressed incomprehension, saying the family was not seeking revenge but answers. The defendant apologized to the infant and his parents.
The prosecutor had requested a five-year prison sentence. The court ultimately imposed four years, including one year suspended with probation, meaning three years of imprisonment to be served.
The ruling also requires treatment, bars contact with the victims and permanently prohibits her from working with children.
On the civil side, the defendant must pay 8,000 euros to the infant’s parents and 700 euros to the other civil parties, including the grandparents. An additional 400 euros was awarded to each civil party concerned for legal fees.
The defendant has ten days to appeal the decision.
