Stéphane Plaza sentenced to 18 months suspended prison term after Paris appeal

Saturday 19 September 2026 - 12:20

Former French television presenter and real estate agent Stéphane Plaza has received a tougher sentence from the Paris Court of Appeal after being found guilty of domestic violence against two former partners.

The court ruled on Friday that Plaza should serve 18 months in prison, suspended, increasing the sentence handed down at first instance.

Appeal court toughens initial ruling

The decision represents a significant change from the original judgment. A criminal court had previously sentenced Plaza to 12 months of suspended imprisonment, while acquitting him in one of the two cases brought before it.

The appeal proceedings revisited allegations of both physical and psychological violence involving two former partners. The Paris appeals court ultimately found Plaza guilty in relation to the cases examined, leading to a heavier overall sentence.

The ruling came despite the prosecution taking a less severe position during the appeal trial. Prosecutors had requested a sentence of six months in prison, suspended, but the judges opted for a substantially tougher penalty.

Legal case adds pressure to public career

The court decision further complicates the public trajectory of a television personality who became widely known in France through property-focused programmes on M6.

Plaza built a prominent profile combining television appearances with his activities in the real estate sector. His legal troubles have nevertheless increasingly affected the business network associated with his name, with several franchises gradually distancing themselves from the brand.

The appeal judgment now adds another chapter to a case that has attracted considerable public attention because of the contrast between Plaza's long-standing media visibility and the allegations examined by the courts.

A turning point for the former M6 personality

The increased sentence underlines the seriousness with which the appeal court treated the allegations involving his former partners. While the prosecution had sought a lighter sanction, the judges ultimately imposed a measure that extends beyond the penalty decided at the first trial.

For Plaza, the ruling represents a new legal and professional setback, as the former television star faces the consequences of a case that has already reshaped his public image and affected links between his media career and the real estate business.