The suspect was taken into custody by the anti-crime brigade (BAC) on the night of April 9-10, 2026, after local sheep and goat owners alerted police.
Since early 2026, several owners had discovered their animals injured, with incidents reported in both February and March.
The animals had their legs tied and showed clear signs of rape, according to French newspaper La Provence.
After multiple similar episodes, the owners installed motion-sensor cameras on their properties in an attempt to identify the perpetrator.
The footage revealed the silhouette of a young man visiting their livestock at night, and the images were handed over to police, who were eventually able to identify a matching suspect.
The man appeared before a judge on Saturday, April 11, who ordered his placement in pre-trial detention. He was set to appear in court on Monday, April 13.
He faces up to three years in prison and a €45,000 fine for acts of cruelty toward domesticated animals.
The case has drawn the attention of the Animal Protection Association (SPA), which announced it would pursue civil action in the matter.
"[We] are going to take this barbarian to court," the SPA declared.
"Thank you to the national police for their essential intervention."