The Wagner man arrested after a 2-year-old girl was found dead in his family's home has been sentenced for drug crimes related to the case.
Taylor Cournoyer, 21, was facing charges of child abuse and failure to notify authorities of a child's death. However, in October those charges were dropped when he pleaded guilty to the drug crimes.
On July 4, after an anonymous phone police found 2-year old RieLee Lovell dead at Cournoyer's home. According to the Charles Mix County State's Attorney, the toddler had been dead for a "significant amount" of time.
On Thursday, a judge handed down Cournoyer's sentence. He was sentenced 15 years in prison for possession of a controlled substance, with five years suspended. He was also sentenced 10 years for keeping a residence where drugs are located, and seven of those years were suspended.
Cournoyer is eligible for parole after serving 56 ½ months.
A sentence of 25 years was the maximum he could serve for the crimes.
A second person connected to the case, Laurie Cournoyer, 28, of Wagner was indicted on drug charges in October. She is also charged with one count of abuse or cruelty to a minor and failure to notify law enforcement of death of child.
