February 5, 2018 at 4:08 p.m.
Arbor Vitae man charged in connection with Valliere murder case
Oungst accused of harboring or aiding a felon
Arbor Vitae man charged in connection with Valliere murder case
Evan T. Oungst appeared before Vilas County Judge Neal A. Nielsen III Monday morning to answer to charges of harboring or aiding a felon, a class I felony, and resisting or obstructing an officer.
According to the probable cause statement attached to the criminal complaint, two agents from the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) contacted Oungst on Dec. 29 regarding the disappearance of Wayne M. Valliere Jr., who was last seen alive on Dec. 22. DCI, along with several other law enforcement agencies, had been investigating Valliere's disappearance as a missing persons case.
During the initial interview, Oungst allegedly admitted that he had been with Valliere, Richard F. Allen of Lac du Flambeau and several others at a party on Dec. 21, but denied knowing where Valliere was or the location of any of the other people in attendance at the party, the complaint states.
Oungst was questioned again Dec. 30 at which time he allegedly admitted that he had been in a van with Valliere, Allen and several others on Dec. 21. After they rode around for a while, the van stopped somewhere in the area of the Powell Marsh and everyone got out but him, he reported. A short time later, everyone but Valliere got back in the van and they left, he said.
"Officers asked Oungst whether he saw, heard or smelled anything while out on those back roads," the complaint reads. "He responded that he remembered hearing seven loud bangs outside the van."
In an interview on Dec. 31, Oungst allegedly told investigators that "he felt Wayne M. Valliere Jr. was no longer alive."
He also admitted that he gave Allen a ride from Arbor Vitae to Crandon on Dec. 30 "and dropped him off on a side road."
He maintained he did not know Allen's whereabouts or what happened to Valliere, but wanted to help investigators locate Valliere.
Officers took Oungst on a ride on back roads in Vilas and Iron counties looking for Valliere's body, but could not find it, the complaint states.
Oungst was arrested on Jan. 2, at which time he gave investigators more information involving Allen, Valliere and the others he said were in the van. He also allegedly admitted that Allen gave him a pair of shoes to dispose of, which he took. He denied being told to get rid of anything else. He also allegedly admitted collecting certain clothing for "evidence" for law enforcement, because he felt something was wrong, however he never disclosed this or turned over the clothing during any of his prior contacts with law enforcement, the complaint states.
Oungst had a bail hearing before Nielsen Jan. 5 at which time he was ordered held on $10,000 cash with conditions upon release that he stay at his parent's house unless in their presence and have no contact with Allen or any of the other named individuals who were allegedly in the van.
At Monday's initial appearance, after charges were formally filed, Nielsen lowered the bond to $2,500 with the same conditions. A preliminary hearing was set for Feb. 14.
Allen had a bond hearing Jan. 5 before Iron County judge Patrick Madden. He was ordered held on a $1 million cash bond on suspicion of first-degree intentional homicide. He has yet to be formally charged in the case, however.
None of the other individuals named in the Oungst criminal complaint have been formally charged nor have they had bond hearings.
Last week, the Department of Justice Criminal Litigation Unit formally took over the prosecution of any cases filed in Iron County in connection with Valliere's death. However, formal charges are not expected for at least another week, according to a DOJ spokesperson.
Jamie Taylor may be reached via email at [email protected].
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