An investigating judge’s decision to hold a 29-year-old Moroccan man in prison for allegedly sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl has been reversed by the Venice Court of Review. The suspect faces charges of aggravated sexual assault after allegedly targeting a 14-year-old girl and groping her inner thighs on May 7 in the Castellana municipality near Venice.
Though a Treviso investigating judge initially upheld the suspect’s placement in prison as a precautionary step, the Court of Review ultimately invalidated that directive.
The Venetian magistrates have authorized the release of the 29-year-old Moroccan national, who is accused of assaulting a young girl under the age of 14 earlier this month. In place of jail time, the court determined that a the man only required to sign in with authorities.
The ongoing inquiry, spearheaded by Public Prosecutor Gabriella Cama, indicates that the offense transpired during the afternoon of May 7 in a community park. The young victim said she was seated by herself on a bench when the 29-year-old approached her, according to Italian outlet Treviso Today.
Appearing to be under the influence of alcohol, the man sat beside her, confiscated her mobile device, and coerced her into giving him her phone number. He then dialed the number from his own phone to confirm she had given him the correct digits. Following this, the suspect allegedly used physical force to restrain her, pinning her by the shoulders to block her exit before fondling her inner thigh.
Authorities were first notified at 6:26 p.m. and Italian police responded. By 7:30 p.m., the victim’s father arrived at the Castelfranco Veneto Carabinieri Station to submit a formal report.
Roughly 30 minutes later, officers from the Castelfranco Veneto Company located the suspect near a train underpass. When he spotted the police vehicle, the man reportedly tried to conceal himself by crouching behind a low wall, and he subsequently refused to identify himself once cornered.
Police searched the suspect and confiscated his smartphone to inspect his recent communications and investigate the potential existence of child pornography.
The release of the man has sparked anger, including from Italian journalist Francesca Totolo.
“The Venice Court of Review has revoked the prison custody previously ordered by the investigating judge against a 29-year-old undocumented Moroccan man, accused of having assaulted, grabbed, and groped a 14-year-old girl in a park For the Moroccan man. Only the obligation to report for signature has been ordered,” she wrote on X.
“What could happen if the girl were to cross paths with him again?” she asked.
Il tribunale del riesame di Venezia ha revocato la custodia in carcere precedentemente disposta dal gip nei confronti di un 29enne marocchino clandestino, accusato di aver aggredito, afferrato e palpeggiato una ragazzina di 14 anni in un parco.
Per il marocchino, è stato… pic.twitter.com/atLBJqqqwI
— Francesca Totolo (@fratotolo2) May 28, 2026The courts viewed the evidence against the 29-year-old Moroccan as highly compelling. Investigating judge Marco Biagetti underscored the complete credibility of the young victim, pointing out that her account was highly accurate regarding the suspect’s attire, which was a green military-style shirt paired with gray pants. Furthermore, her account was corroborated by the phone number left in the call history of her device.
The investigating judge originally granted the Prosecutor’s request for strict pretrial detention due to a distinct flight risk, citing the suspect’s irregular status as a non-citizen who has lived in Italy without legal documentation or a fixed address for more than two years. Nevertheless, this arrangement was ultimately canceled by the formal ruling of the higher court.
