By Micah Jonah
January 28, 2026
A former French senator, Joel Guerriau, has been found guilty by a Paris court of spiking a lawmaker’s drink with ecstasy with the intention of sexually assaulting her.
The court rejected claims by the defence that the drug was administered accidentally, ruling that Guerriau deliberately gave the substance to Member of Parliament, Sandrine Josso in order to impair her judgment, control over her actions.
Guerriau, 68, who resigned from the Senate in October 2025 following the allegations, was also convicted of possession and use of ecstasy.
The court sentenced him to four years in prison, with two and a half years suspended, and ordered deferred detention, meaning he will remain free while his appeal is pending. One of his lawyers confirmed that he would appeal the judgment.
Josso told investigators that she felt unwell after taking a few sips of champagne offered by Guerriau at his apartment during a visit to celebrate an election victory. She said the drink tasted unusual and that she feared she would have been assaulted if she had not left the apartment quickly.
In its ruling, the court said the intention to commit sexual assault could be inferred from Guerriau’s insistence that Josso drink the spiked beverage, his inappropriate behaviour, and online searches related to drugs and their use in sexual assaults.
The case has drawn national attention in France, coming after a separate high profile conviction in 2024 that raised public awareness about drug facilitated sexual assault and violence against women.
