East Providence Nursing Home Resident Sexually Assaults Staff Member: AG

EAST PROVIDENCE, RI — A resident at an East Providence nursing home sexually assaulted a nursing home staff member in April, Attorney General Peter Neronha said Friday.

On May 15, Neronha's office charged Joseph Couto, 78, a resident at the Evergreen House Health Center, with three counts of second-degree sexual assault.

Prosecutors said on March 31, East Providence police spoke with the victim and took recorded statements. The victim told officers Couto physically and verbally assaulted her several times, prosecutors said.

On Dec. 25, 2022, Couto pushed his call button several times, and the staff member responded. When the victim entered the room, Couto made sexually suggestive comments towards her, prosecutors said. Prosecutors said he inappropriately touched her a few days later.

About a month later, Couto made a sexual request towards the victim, prosecutors said. Prosecutors said the victim also described another incident where Couto inappropriately touched her. Further, the victim described another incident with another employee, where Couto threatened to sexually assault them, according to prosecutors.

Couto is scheduled for a pre-arraignment conference on July 26, in Providence County Superior Court.

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