Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By RALPH ANSAMI
Hurley — A motion hearing on whether a murder charge against Evan T. Oungst will be heard along with charges against four other defendants will be heard Monday in Iron County Court.
Oungst, 27, of Arbor Vitae, is charged in the murder of Wayne M. Valliere Jr., of Lac du Flambeau, and also with hiding a corpse.
The motion for Oungst will be heard on the same day Curtis A. Wolfe, 26, of Lac du Flambeau, appears in court for an initial hearing on the same charges. Oungst’s attorney told the court Monday she’d file a motion to sever his case from the others.
James Lussier, 19, of Woodruff; Joseph D. Lussier, 26, of Lac du Flambeau, and Richard F.A. Allen, 27, also of Lac du Flambeau, also face murder and hiding corpse charges. They appeared in Iron County Court on Monday, with Oungst appearing by videoconference from the Vilas County Jail in Eagle River.
Valliere was beaten and shot to death on Dec. 22. His body was found in the Mercer area. Valliere was reported missing to Lac du Flambeau police on Christmas Day and his body was found on New Year’s day.
Except for Wolfe, all defendants have waived their rights to a speedy preliminary examinations and bonds have been set at $1 million.
