A Louisiana man's appeal to reduce his 99-year prison sentence was rejected after his conviction for drugging, kidnapping, and sexually abusing a woman at Golden Nugget Casino in St. Charles.

Stephen Douglas Cormier was convicted in 2023 on multiple charges including second-degree sexual battery, second-degree kidnapping, and mingling harmful substances. The incident occurred on October 5, 2021, when Cormier met his victim at the casino's blackjack tables.

Casino surveillance footage showed Cormier spiking a drink before offering it to the victim, identified as "E.M." After consuming the drink, she became severely impaired. Cormier then drove her to a house where he sexually assaulted her and took photographs of the abuse.

The victim's boyfriend and mother later found her in her car at the casino parking garage, disoriented and unable to remember the events. Security footage revealed Cormier had returned her to her vehicle.

During the investigation, police discovered photos of the assault on Cormier's phone, along with video footage of him similarly assaulting another unconscious victim. The second victim reported having no memory of the assault.

Cormier's appeal argued that the video evidence of the second victim should not have been admitted in court. However, the 3rd Circuit Appeal Court rejected this argument, stating the footage demonstrated a pattern of sexually abusing unconscious women.

The original 99-year sentence stands, with the court affirming that the evidence properly demonstrated Cormier's criminal behavior pattern and intent.

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