East Providence nursing home resident charged with sexually assaulting staff member

Published on Friday, June 23, 2023

An indictment, information, or complaint is merely an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. 

Attorney General Peter F. Neronha announced that an East Providence man has been charged in Providence County Superior Court with sexually assaulting a nursing home staff member following his arrest by the East Providence Police on April 6, 2023.

On May 15, 2023, the Office of the Attorney General charged Joseph Couto (age 78), by way of criminal information, with three counts of second-degree sexual assault.

As alleged in the criminal information, on March 31, 2023, East Providence Police began reviewing a recorded statement made by a staff member at the Evergreen nursing home in East Providence. On the recording, the victim identified the defendant as her assailant, alleging that he had both physically and verbally assaulted her multiple times.

As alleged, the victim stated that around December 25, 2022, the defendant pushed his call button and she responded to the alert. Upon entering the defendant’s room, the victim alleged that the defendant made sexually suggestive comments towards her. A few days later, the victim alleged that the defendant inappropriately touched her.

As further alleged, about a month later, the defendant made a request of the victim that was sexual in nature. The victim described another incident during which the defendant inappropriately touched her. Further, the victim described yet another incident with another employee, during which the defendant threatened to sexually assault them.

The defendant is scheduled for a pre-arraignment conference on July 26, 2023 in Providence County Superior Court.

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