Porter man sentenced for rape convictions

By Zane Thomas

A Porter man has been sentenced to 40 years on first degree rape convictions related to his adoptive daughters.

On Nov. 24, District Judge Bruce Sewell sentenced Eugene Richard Putnam, 56, to 15 years imprisonment with an additional 25 years on probation. Putnam had entered a blind plea on three first-degree rape charges on Sept. 22. A blind plea means there was no prior agreement that had been reached between the District Attorney’s office and Putnam’s attorney.

Under state law, Putnam must serve 85 percent of his sentence. He will also be credited for time served in jail. Putnam was arrested in March, 2007 on three rape charges of his adoptive daughters. According to court documents, one was 12 at the time of the incident. The other daughter was nine. Putnam spent about six months in the Wagoner County Detention Center. His bail was originally set at $250,000 before it was reduced to $50,000 in December of 2007, when bond was posted.

Following the hearing on Nov. 24, Putnam was immediately taken into custody to begin his sentence.

Assistant District Attorney Grant Huskey, the prosecutor in the case, said the best thing about this sentence is that when Putnam gets out of prison, he will be 68. Then, Putnam will have to spend the rest of his life on probation.

Putnam was also charged with child abuse and child neglect charges which were dismissed.

Putnam’s wife, Doyanne Putnam, also entered a blind plea on Sept. 22 on child abuse and child neglect charges in connection with this case. However, Huskey said there were some problems which arose during her pre-sentence investigation, so her sentencing hearing is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 10.

Scott Landon represented the Putnams as their attorney. He said he couldn’t comment substantially on the case at this time because Doyanne Putnam’s case is still pending.