Cheboygan man is now a fugitive after he fails to appear for sentencing and his wife faces charges for helping him avoid arrest
By Roxanne Werly
Thursday, October 22, 2009 at 12:27 p.m.
Read more: Local, Crime
A Cheboygan mariner is now a fugitive after he failed to appear for sentencing in Federal Court.
Wayne Duffiney was scheduled for sentencing by U.S. District Judge Thomas Ludington on September 30.
Duffiney was convicted by a federal jury in April of 2009 in Bay City on three of four charges stemming from his conduct on May 14 through May 17, 2007. Duffiney was convicted of violating the federal Clean Water Act by discharging pollutants into Lake Huron.
In 2007 Wayne Duffiney dragged his boat to the Cheboygan River, hooked it to a tow boat and took it out into Lake Huron where it sank.
The boat had been destroyed years before when it was set on fire by an arsonist.
Later when safety and pollution concerns arose Duffiney towed the boat back closer to shore to be properly disposed, but authorities say the damage had already been done, and charges were filed against him.
After Wayne Duffiney failed to appear for sentencing, his wife, Michele Duffiney was charged with helping her husband avoid arrest. Officials say Michele Duffiney provided false information to law enforcement officers from the U.S. Marshal Service and the U.S. Coast Guard, suggesting that her husband had committed suicide when she knew otherwise. The complaint also alleges Michele knowingly concealed Wayne from arrest and made herself an accessory after the fact.
Michele Duffiney was arrested on October 15, 2009 and released on bond the next day. As a condition of her bond she must report any communication she receives from Wayne Duffiney and not initiate any contact on her own.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Wayne Duffiney is asked to contact any of the following agencies:
U.S. Marshal Service 989-225-1015 (Deputy Kubezak)
U.S. Coast Guard 906-630-0208 (Agent Petty)
Michigan State Police 231-627-9974 (D.Sgt. Nightingale)
