March 5, 2018 at 3:29 p.m.
Bail set at $1M for 4 Valliere murder suspects
Bail set at $1M for 4 Valliere murder suspects
Valliere Jr., 25, Lac du Flambeau, was reported missing in late December and his body found in Iron County the first few days of January.
His death was ruled a homicide and five men - Richard F.A. Allen, 27, Joseph Lussier, 26, James Lussier, 19, Curtis Wolfe, 27 and Evan Oungst, 28 - are all charged with one count each of first degree intentional homicide and one count each of hiding a corpse.
Allen's bail was set at $1 million last month and Monday bail was also set at $1 million each for the two Lussiers and Oungst.
Wolfe's initial appearance is scheduled for March 12 in Iron County Court.
Allen and the Lussiers appeared in court Monday while Oungst appeared via video from the Vilas County Jail.
Oungst faces charges there of harboring and/or aiding a felon and resisting and/or obstructing an officer.
Each waived hearing the charges against them and the 10 day time limit for setting their preliminary hearings.
Maggie Hogan, Oungst's defense attorney, also was to file a motion to sever. If granted, he would not be tried with the others.
Hogan also attempted to get Oungst's bail reduced from the $1 million assistant attorney general Richard Dufour sought, citing, first of all, Oungst had nothing serious on his record previously.
"He may have a traffic citation but that would be the extent of his prior record," Hogan said. "Furthermore, it is our position and I think the position of many, that Mr. Oungst is far less culpable than the other co-defendants in this case and that's one of the basis's for our request for a motion to sever. He's been in contact with law enforcement in anticipation and prior to the case's filing. It is accurate that he is currently out on $2,500 cash bond in Vilas County. So, clearly, that's an amount (the $1 million) he cannot post and there's zero risk of flight in this situation."
Madden disagreed and said the $1 million bond for Oungst was appropriate, which drew applause from several members of the Valliere family who were present.
Dufour said he would consult with the five defense attorneys to set dates for the preliminary hearings.
Brian Jopek may be reached via email at [email protected].
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