February 13, 2019 at 5:01 p.m.
Lussier files second request for appeal of murder conviction
Lussier files second request for appeal of murder conviction
By Abigail Bostwick-
Joseph Lussier, 27, formerly Lac du Flambeau, currently serving time at Green Bay Correctional, was found guilty by a 12-person jury in August 2018 of the beating and shooting murder of Wayne Valliere Jr., 25, Lac du Flambeau.
Lussier's attorney, Craig Haukaas, Ashland, withdrew from the case and the State of Wisconsin State Public Defender Appellate Division appointed public defender Timothy Provis of Port Washington late last year.
Also found guilty at the same trial was Richard Allen, 28, Lac du Flambeau. Both have filed notices of intent to pursue post conviction relief in the days following their convictions. Both were denied and closed within a few weeks.
This week, Lussier filed his second intent to appeal with Provis.
Provis specializes in appeals cases in Wisconsin and California, according to his website.
Also charged in the crime and awaiting future court are Evan Oungst, 28, of Arbor Vitae, and Curtis Wolfe, 27, of Lac du Flambeau. Joseph Lussier's younger brother, James Lussier, 20, accepted a plea deal on lesser charges of homicide/battery and two counts aiding a felon and was sentenced to 15 years prison and 15 years' extended supervision.
Valliere was missing for 10 days before investigators were led to where his body had been hidden in a remote area in the snow on a remote dirt road outside of Mercer.
In a letter written last year to his younger brother, Lussier claims "... prison is a five-star hotel to me, it's my mansion ..." and that he has been getting "locked up" since he was 11, imprisoned every year since he was 17.
"This is all I know," he said in the letter. "That's why I laughed when they gave me life."
When asked for a statement prior to sentencing, Lussier told the court, "Give me what I got comin'."
In his letter, Lussier tells his brother to "turn his life around," noting, "By the time I realized my mistake I was already too far gone n wasn't no turnin' back ... I could've turned my life around. I could've done many things, brother, unfortunately, I chose to walk the Black Road."
Comments:
You must login to comment.