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 the Golden Nugget Casino in St. Charles.

Stephen Douglas Cormier was convicted in 2023 on charges of 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.

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 took her to a friend's 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 recall events after meeting Cormier. A subsequent police investigation revealed photos of the assault on Cormier's phone, along with video footage of him similarly assaulting another unconscious victim.

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

The court upheld the original 99-year sentence, noting that the video evidence was relevant to establishing Cormier's method of assault and supporting the first victim's testimony.

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