Man who was involved in the shooting death of Israel Lugo

A man who was involved in the shooting death of Israel Lugo on Hastings Hill in St. Johnsbury changed his plea on Wednesday. Michael Ringuette, 56, who was not the alleged shooter, pleaded guilty to burglary into an occupied dwelling and 2nd-degree unlawful restraint. Judge Michael R. Kainen then sentenced him to 4-13 years in prison with credit for time served. Once Ringuette gets out of prison, he will be on probation until further court order. The plan, which included four people, was to rob the alleged drug dealer Lugo, but Lugo ended up dead following a gunshot wound to the torso. Raphael Rodriguez is the alleged shooter, and he is being charged with first-degree murder, assault and robbery and burglary of an occupied dwelling while armed. The other members of the group were Brittany Clark and Natasha Cady. They all pleaded not guilty in Caledonia Superior Court with pending charges. Darlene Gilchrist – who was the leaseholder of the apartment at 78 Hastings Hill – was another victim in the robbery. Ringuette took her down to the floor and “sat on her” so she could not interfere with the robbery.