Registered Predatory Offender pleas guilty to new charge of sexually abusing child

Matthew Steven Tourigny

(St. Louis County Jail)

DULUTH, Minn. – Matthew Steven Tourigny, 39, of Britt pleaded guilty to First Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct on February 20, 2026.

St. Louis County Attorney Kim Maki says during the plea hearing, Tourigny admitted that he sexually assaulted a child under the age of 14 between October 2021 and December 2024.

In addition, Tourigny also admitted to aggravating factors which permits the court to issue a sentence above the presumptive guideline prison sentence of 144 months.  Tourigny will likely be sentenced to 288 months in prison.  Sentencing is scheduled for April 14, 2026.

Law enforcement first learned about this case in 2024 when he allegedly was sending messages on social media referring to child sexual abuse.  Charging documents alleged he sent pictures of a child and tried to arrange or coordinate sexual abuse.

According to charging documents at the time of these charges being filled, Tourigny was a Registered Predatory Offender.

He had twice been convicted of failing to register.

Court records how he was convicted of “Intentionally provides false info” in 2006.  Then just one year late, in 2007, he was found guilty of “Knowingly Violates Registration Req. or Intentionally Provides False Information.”  Minnesota public records do not show what he did to be put on the Predatory Offender Registry.