Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Ralph Ansami/Daily Globe JOSEPH LUSSIER, 26, of Lac du Flambeau, Wis., appears in Iron County Court on March 5. A May 23 preliminary examination was scheduled Monday for Lussier and four other defendants in the death of Wayne Valliere Jr. of Lac du Flambeau. Iron County Sheriff's Department lead investigator Lt. Paul Samardich looks on, while defense attorney Craig Haukaas is at left.
By RALPH ANSAMI
Hurley - May 23 preliminary examinations have been scheduled in Iron County Court for the five suspects in the murder of a Lac du Flambeau, Wis., man.
An early Monday court scheduling conference was conducted for the five men who are being held on $1 million cash bonds set by Iron County Judge Patrick Madden.
Curtis A. Wolfe, 26, of Lac du Flambeau; James Lussier, 19, of Woodruff; Joseph D. Lussier, 26, of Lac du Flambeau; Richard F.A. Allen, 27, of Lac du Flambeau, and Evan T. Oungst, 27, of Arbor Vitae, are charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree intentional homicide and hiding a corpse.
The charges pertain to the death of Wayne M. Valliere Jr., of Lac du Flambeau, who was beaten and shot to death on Dec. 22. He was reported missing to Lac du Flambeau police on Christmas, and his body was found on New Year's day.
According to criminal complaints, drugs and gang activity were involved and a possible motive was that the five defendants believed that Valliere was an informant.
Assistant Attorney General Richard Dufour is prosecuting the case.
All five men previously waived speedy preliminary examinations.
At the preliminary exams at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, May 23, Madden will determine if the defendants will be bound over for trial.
