Four appear in Iron court for tribal member's murder

By RALPH ANSAMI

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Hurley — A large delegation of Lac du Flambeau tribal members attended initial court appearances Monday for four of the five men who are accused of murder and hiding a corpse.

All five are charged in the death of Wayne Valliere Jr., 25, of Lac du Flambeau, near Mercer on Dec. 22.

James B. Lussier, 19, of Arbor Vitae; Richard F.A. Allen, 27, of Lac du Flambeau; Evan T. Oungst, 27, of Arbor Vitae, and Joseph D. Lussier, 26, of Lac du Flambeau, appeared in Iron County Court before Judge Patrick Madden.

Madden completed setting $1 million bonds for all four suspects and all waived 10-day requirements for preliminary hearings.

The fifth defendant, Curtis A. Wolfe, 26, of Lac du Flambeau, will appear in court next Monday at 10:30 a.m. He is being held in the Oneida County Jail in Rhinelander, according to court records.

Numerous law enforcement officers were assigned to the packed courtroom.

There were shouts of “devil” and “monster” during Allen’s brief appearance.

Someone shouted “rot in hell” to Joseph Lussier, who was returned to a prison after Monday’s hearing.

Applause erupted from the audience when Madden set the $1 million bond for Oungst. His attorney, Mary Hogan, had requested he continue to be held in the Vilas County Jail at Eagle River on $2,500 bond, saying he had no criminal record and wasn’t a risk to flee.

Hogan said she would file a motion later in the day to sever that case from the other four defendants. She claimed her client “is far less culpable” than the other suspects.

Oungst and Hogan appeared via videoconference.

Following the court hearings, tribal members gathered in the small courtroom across the hall.

Valliere was shot eight times and his body was found off a road near Mercer.

Criminal complaints filed in the case say the five defendants drove Valliere to a secluded spot, beat him and shot him, thinking he was a police informant.

Assistant Attorney General Richard Dufour, the lead special prosecutor in the case, said Monday he would attempt to arrange a date for the preliminary hearings, when it will be determined whether the suspects will be bound over for trial.