A Porter couple have entered pleas on charges of raping and abusing their adoptive children.

On Monday, Sept. 22, Eugene Richard Putnam, 55, and DoyAnne Putnam, 54, entered their pleas before District Judge Bruce Sewell.

According to court documents, Eugene Putnam pleaded guilty to three charges of first degree rape of his adoptive daughters.

DoyAnne Putnam entered an Alford plea to three charges of child abuse, one charge of child neglect and one charge of enabling child neglect.

Assistant District Attorney Gary Huggins, the prosecutor in the case, explained an Alford plea is when a defendant pleads innocence to all charges but there is enough evidence for a conviction. Court documents indicate DoyAnne Putnam stated "Some of these charges are my word against theirs-some true/some false."

Putnam was also facing child abuse and child neglect charges, but Huggins said those will be dismissed during sentencing because the rape charges are more serious.

The pleas were entered without any recommendation from the state.

Both Eugene Putnam and DoyAnne Putnam were represented by attorney Scott Landon. He was contacted but was unavailable for comment as of press time.

Court documents indicate Eugene Putnam will receive 40 years with all but 15 suspended, which means he will have to serve at least 15 years imprisonment and 25 years on probation.

DoyAnne Putnam's sentence is 20 years suspended, according to court documents.

A pre-sentencing investigation is underway. Both Eugene and DoyAnne Putnam will be formally sentenced Nov. 5.