Suspect in Wagner child death pleads guilty to drug charges

• Taylor Cournoyer

Taylor Cournoyer enters the Charles Mix County Courthouse in Lake Andes for a court proceeding. (Chris Huber/Republic)

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WAGNER — A 21-year-old Wagner man arrested in July after the body of a 2-year-old girl was found in a closet in his home has pleaded guilty to two drug charges that arose from the incident.

Taylor Cournoyer pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of possession of methamphetamine and one count of keeping a place for the use or sale of controlled substances.

Cournoyer had pleaded not guilty in August to an indictment charging him with those and seven additional charges, including five counts of abuse or cruelty to a minor and one count of failure to notify law enforcement of the death of a child.

He also admitted to being a habitual offender, which increased the maximum penalty for his crimes to 25 years in prison and a $50,000 fine, according to a Wednesday press release from the state Attorney General’s Office.

Sentencing is set for November.

Cournoyer and 28-year-old Laurie Cournoyer were both arrested after 2-year-old Rielee Lovell was found dead July 4 at the couple’s home in a Wagner tribal housing project after being in their care.

Charges against Laurie Cournoyer are still pending, the release says. She also pleaded not guilty in August to an identical indictment to the one charged against Taylor Cournoyer.

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