Porter man sentenced to 40 years for rape

By ZANE THOMAS

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

District Judge Bruce Sewell sentenced Eugene Richard Putnam, 56, to 15 years imprisonment with an additional 25 years on probation.

Under state law, Putnam must serve 85 percent of his sentence. He will also credit 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 was nine. Putnam spent about six months in the Wagoner County jail. His bail was originally set at $250,000 before it was reduced to $50,000 in December of 2007, when bond was posted.

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

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

Putnam’s wife, Doyanne Putnam, entered a blind plea Sept. 22 on child abuse and child neglect charges in connection with this case. However, Huskey said some problems 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 much on the case at this time because Doyanne Putnam’s case is still pending.