Court docket sees flury of felony cases

A married couple from Porter facing rape and child abuse charges was scheduled to go to trial on Monday, March 24 but the case was passed to April 28.

Eugene R. Putnam, 55, is charged with three counts of first-degree rape, three counts of child abuse and one count of child neglect.

Putnam is accused of two counts of first-degree rape of his then 12-year-old adoptive daughter, and his then 9-year-old adoptive daughter.

The alleged incidents involving the 12-year-old are reported to have occurred between January, 2001 and June, 2001. The alleged incident involving the 9-year-old are reported to have occurred between August, 2000 and July, 2001.

The child abuse charges accuse Putnam of striking these children.

His wife, Doyanne Putnam, 54, faces three counts of child abuse, one count of child neglect and one count of enabling child neglect in connection with this case.

On March 12, the Putnams appeared before District Judge Bruce Sewell for a motion hearing. Both Eugene and Doyanne Putnam are represented by attorney Scott Landon.

Sewell denied the defendants' motion to dismiss or remand for further pre-hearings, as well as denying the defendants' motion to quash.