April 25, 2018 at 5:44 p.m.
Oungst pleads not guilty to Vilas County charges
Case is related to the Wayne Valliere Jr. murder case
Oungst pleads not guilty to Vilas County charges
Both charges filed against Evan Oungst, harboring and/or aiding a felon and misdemeanor resisting or obstructing an officer, are connected to the Valliere, Jr. case.
Valliere, Jr., 25, Lac du Flambeau, was reported missing in late December. His body was found in Iron County Jan. 1.
His death was ruled a homicide and five men - Richard F.A. Allen, 27, Joseph Lussier, 26, James Lussier, 19, Curtis Wolfe, 27 and Oungst - are each charged in Iron County with one count of first-degree intentional homicide and one count each of hiding a corpse in connection with his death.
All five are being held on $1 million bail each.
As the parents of Oungst and family members of Wayne Valliere, Jr. - including his father - looked on, Vilas County circuit court judge Neal A. Nielsen, in reading over documents pertaining to the Vilas County charges, mentioned a period of time when Oungst had been committed to a mental institution "pursuant to Chapter 51 in late 2017 and early 2018."
Chapter 51 is the section of Wisconsin statutes that contains the Wisconsin Alcohol, Drug Abuse, Developmental Disabilities and Mental Health Act.
"There was never actually any type of finding or adjudication entered into a settlement agreement," Nielsen said. "There was a breach of the settlement agreement and then he (Oungst) was detained pending further evaluation and final hearing and ultimately, the matter was dismissed. So, I just want to make sure we're talking about mental health issues here."
Nielsen said he didn't know if Oungst left that process with any requirements for anything like medication.
Oungst's attorney, Thomas Wilmouth, said he was waiting for records from that period of time.
"I'm confident, with what I know about those placements and my approximately two weeks, almost daily interaction with him (Oungst), that this waiver of preliminary hearing, regardless of those prior treatment sessions, is knowingly and voluntarily made," he said.
Wilmouth and another attorney, Amy Ferguson, replaced Oungst's original attorney, Maggie Hogan, earlier this month.
Nielsen asked Oungst if he was required to take any medications following his time in the institution.
"No, your honor," Oungst replied.
"You believe you're clearheaded today and you understand what we're doing, right?" Nielsen asked.
"Absolutely," Oungst said.
Nielsen accepted the waiver of preliminary hearing, as well as not guilty pleas to both charges, and scheduled a pre-trial conference for May 29.
Oungst and the other four men accused of killing Valliere, Jr. are scheduled to appear in Iron County Circuit Court for preliminary hearings on the intentional homicide charge May 23.
Brian Jopek may be reached via email at [email protected].
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