NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 20, 2026
MEDIA CONTACT: Wade Backstrom
218-726-2323 or backstromw@stlouiscountymn.gov
Matthew Steven Tourigny Pleads Guilty
Court file # 69VI-CR-24-1360
Today, before the Honorable Robert C. Friday, Matthew Steven Tourigny, 39, pleaded guilty to First Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct, announced St. Louis County Attorney Kim Maki. During the plea hearing, Tourigny admitted that he sexually assaulted a male under the age of 14 between October 2021 and December 2024 in Britt, Minnesota. In addition, Tourigny also admitted to aggravating factors which permit the court to issue a sentence above the presumptive guideline prison sentence of 144 months. With the admission of aggravating factors, Judge Friday will be permitted by law to sentence Tourigny to the agreed-upon sentence of 288 months, with credit for time served since his arrest in December 2024. Under standard sentencing law, Tourigny will be eligible for parole after serving 2/3rds of the sentence (192 months), unless otherwise modified by the Minnesota Department of Corrections.
The St. Louis County Attorney’s Office credits the successful prosecution of this case to the investigation by both the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Homeland Security Investigations.
Sentencing is scheduled for April 14, 2026 at 3:00 PM.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant St. Louis County Attorney Aaron P. Welch.
For help please contact:
Domestic Abuse Intervention Project: theduluthmodel.org; 218-722-2781
American Indian Community Housing Organization: aicho.org; 218-722-2247
Safe Haven: safehavenshelter.org; 218-728-6481
Program for Aid to Victims of Sexual Assault: pavsa.org; 218-726-1931
Center Against Sexual and Domestic Abuse: casda.org; 715-392-3136
Advocates For Family Peace: www.affp.org; 218-248-5512
Sexual Assault Program of Northern St. Louis County: stopsexualviolence.org; 218-749-7227
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