Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By RALPH ANSAMI
Hurley — The two men who were convicted of murdering Lac du Flambeau tribal member Wayne Valliere Jr. have indicated they intend to appeal the Iron County Court decision.
A 12-person Iron County jury deliberated about an hour and a half on Aug. 13 before finding Joseph Lussier, 27, and Richard Allen, 28, guilty of first-degree intentional homicide and hiding a corpse in the Dec. 22 shooting death.
Iron County Judge Patrick Madden then sentenced the two to life in prison without parole, although their attorneys requested a pre-sentence investigation.
Lussier and Allen have since filed a “notice of intent to pursue post-conviction relief,” according to automated court records.
Another development in the case occurred last Friday. The state filed a request that restitution by held open for 60 days.
Allen shot Valliere Jr. three times and Lussier fired six shots into his back following a drug-fueled ride that involved three other men who have also been charged with being a party to the crime of murder and hiding a corpse. Also charged are James Lussier, 20, of Woodruff; Evan T. Oungst, 28, of Arbor Vitae, and Curtis Wolfe, 26, of Lac du Flambeau,
James Lussier pleaded guilty earlier this month to felony murder and aiding a felon. He entered into a plea agreement to get a more lenient sentence, he admitted during the trial. His sentencing is set for Nov. 5.
In addition to the life sentences, both Allen and Joseph Lussier, who had already been serving prison terms, were sentenced to 11 years for hiding a corpse.
Valliere Jr. was killed because he was believed to be a drug informant, although assistant Attorney General Richard Dufour noted there was no such evidence provided during the trial.
Attorneys for the defendants were James Lex and Craig Haukaas.
There is no indication in the court records when an appeal hearing might be scheduled, nor the reasons for filing the action.
