FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE :  January 22, 2013
CONTACT:  Sara Rabern (605) 773-3215   

 
Wagner Woman Pleads to Drug Charges and Failure to Report Death of a Child

PIERRE, S.D.-  Attorney General Marty Jackley announces Laurie Cournoyer, 28, 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 fine.  Cournoyer plead no contest to one count failure to report death of a child, class 5 felony, punishable by up to 5 years imprisonment and/or a $10,000 fine.

Charges stem from an incident that occurred on July 4, 2012, involving the death of a 2 year-old child found dead in a closet. This marks the first conviction under South Dakota's version of Caylee's law, which became law July 1, 2012.

In addition, Cournoyer pled guilty 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. This charge stemmed from the possession of methamphetamine while incarcerated at the Charles Mix County Jail.

Sentencing is scheduled for March 14th at 10 a.m. in Charles Mix County.

 
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