A former Isidore Newman School teacher who has been arrested multiple times in connection with an investigation linked to child sexual abuse material has had his bond denied.
Benoit Cransac has a total $8 million bond in connection with the case. He is facing 60 counts of unlawful deepfakes, 22 counts of child sex abuse material, and 17 counts of video voyeurism of a child under 17.
The judge said even if Cransac was released on bond, there would be no way to monitor his use of AI software. The judge said the only way to prevent his access is by holding him in jail.
The state also argued that Cransac has been trying to contact teachers at Isidore Newman.
Cransac’s attorney argued that he is diabetic and should have a lower bond, but the state argued that there are jail call recordings proving he is getting great treatment and is checked twice a day for his diabetes.
He was arrested earlier this year by Louisiana State Police Bureau of Investigation agents on the Isidore Newman School campus.
Cransac, a French national with legal residence in the United States, remains in custody at the Orleans Justice Center.
Dale Smith, the Head of School for Isidore Newman, issued the following statement regarding the new charges:
“Dear Newman Families, The authorities have informed us that new charges have been filed against former employee, Benoit Cransac. In addition to the charges shared in our last communication, the authorities have added 60 counts of unlawful deepfakes from photos of teenage girls found on social media. We are unaware of the identities of the teenage girls in the deepfakes. We continue to cooperate fully with the authorities and have an open line of communication with the agents managing the investigation. Given the ongoing criminal investigation, there are limitations to our communication. If you have relevant information or questions, please contact the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation directly at (225) 326-6100. We continue to monitor and address the situation with the seriousness it deserves. We understand the unsettling nature of this development. If you or your children need support, please reach out directly to a school leader or one of our counselors.”
Earlier reports:
Court records show that an investigation began into Cransac’s activity in August 2025 after agents received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that led to the arrest.
Records show Google identified 12 files associated with Cransac online. The images, which depicted inappropriate pictures of girls, were dated March 2025.
Google provided the user information associated with the files, which was Cransac’s email.
Investigators were able to trace the IP address to his wife’s Cox Communications account.
Court records show images of Cransac described as “selfies” were found in his Google account, which were then compared to his French passport and his marriage license to confirm his identity.
Investigators also found an additional 14 images and one video in his account that were not included in the original tip.
READ MORE:Bond reduction denied for Newman School teacher facing dozens of child sex abuse charges
