FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE :  Wednesday,  October 17, 2012
CONTACT:  Sara Rabern (605)773-3215

Wagner Man Enters Guilty Plea for Drug Charges

PIERRE, S.D.-  Attorney General Marty Jackley announced  Taylor Cournoyer, 21, Wagner, entered a plea of guilty today to one count of possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, class 4 felony, punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment and/or a $20,000 fine and one count of keeping a place for use or sale of controlled substances, class 5 felony, punishable by up to 5 years imprisonment and/or $10,000.

Cournoyer also admitted to a Part II Information for Habitual Offender exposing him to an elevated sentence of 25 year incarceration and a $50,000 fine.  Charges stem from an incident that occurred on July 4, 2012, involving the death of a 2 year-old child.

Charges against Laurie Cournoyer, 28, Wagner, are still pending. She has been charged with one count of abuse or cruelty to a minor as a felony, class 3 felony, punishable by up to 15 years imprisonment and/or a $30,000 fine and failure to notify law enforcement of death of child, class 5 felony, punishable by up to 5 years and/or $10,000 fine. Laurie Cournoyer is presumed innocent until such time as proven guilty.

Sentencing is scheduled for November 29, 2012, in Charles Mix County.
 

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