Former attorney sentenced in 2023 Houghton killing
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HOUGHTON – Former attorney and Hancock resident Evan Andrew Dixon, 62 was sentenced Monday to a minimum of 18 years and a maximum of 40 years in prison in connection with a 2023 homicide.
Dixon was convicted in Houghton County 12th Circuit Court on one count of second degree murder in the Nov. 13, 2023, shooting death of Theron Duncan, 53, of Houghton. The shooting took place in the men’s restroom of the Douglass House Saloon in downtown Houghton.
Marquette County Circuit Judge Matthew Wiese presided over the case due to local judicial conflicts of interest. Because Dixon was a long-time practicing attorney in Houghton County, local judges recused themselves to avoid conflicts of interest, requiring outside judges to handle the district and circuit court proceedings.
In addition to the prison sentence, Dixon was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $14,091.56 for a combination of Duncan's funeral and cremation services. He was also ordered to pay $150 to the Crime Victims Assessment, comply with DNA testing and pay the $60 fee as ordered by the court and $68 in additional cost as ordered by the court.
Court documents state that as part of the plea agreement, two other charges, first-degree murder and felony firearms, were dismissed. A no-contest plea allows the court to treat the defendant as guilty for sentencing without a formal admission of guilt.
“Mr. Dixon, I don’t doubt your remorse here,” Weise said, “but I am just very puzzled by why we are all here today, and it seems so senseless what you have done.”
“Mr. Duncan should not be dead,” Weise told Dixon. “And he’s only dead because you killed him.”
Dixon was arrested on Nov. 17, 2023, at the Douglass House Saloon in downtown Houghton, where he allegedly fatally shot Houghton resident Duncan, 53, and was arraigned in 97th District Court. Judge Nicholas Daavettila, who worked with Dixon as a fellow attorney and later presided over his cases, recused himself from subsequent proceedings.
Dixon waived his preliminary examination and the case was bound over to the 12th Circuit Court. Circuit Court Judge Brittany Bulliet, who previously served as county prosecutor and assistant prosecutor, recused herself from the case to avoid the appearance of impropriety.
“I will find that the appropriate sentence of 18 years for a minimum to a maximum of 40 years, with credit for 1,023 days served," Weise said.