A Porter man who allegedly admitted he sexually molested four adopted daughters faces charges in Wagoner County District Court for raping two of them.

Eugene Richard Putnam, 54, also faces four counts of child abuse, one count of child neglect and one count of committing a lewd act with a child. Putnam was in court Wednesday when Associate District Judge Darrell G. Shepherd set an April 18 preliminary hearing date.

Putnam’s charges were filed in March following a multijurisdictional investigation of the girls’ allegations of molestation and abuse. According to court documents, the alleged rapes reportedly occurred in 2000 and 2001, when the girls would have been 9 and 12 years old.

The child neglect charge stems from an incident that occurred in March, when Putnam allegedly banished two adopted children from the home knowing the children lacked the means to support themselves.

The child abuse charges stem from allegations that Putnam beat three of his adopted children with a certain plastic or rubber device with intent to injure them.

The lewd act charge stems from allegations that Putnam made a lewd or indecent proposal to a daughter who was 11 years old at the time.

Wagoner County Sheriff’s Investigator Bob Haley learned of the allegations March 5 during a meeting with a Porter police officer, a deputy and a Department of Human Services worker who were investigating the allegations.

In an affidavit filed with the court clerk’s office, Haley said Putnam’s wife said she learned of the alleged molestation sometime in 2000 but had taken steps to avoid repeat behavior.

“She (Doy Anne Putnam) said that he had apologized to the kids and they had brought their pastor to speak to them about it,” Haley states in the affidavit. “It was determined she would police the situation and keep him from being with the girls alone.”

Haley said Putnam agreed to meet with him March 6 at the sheriff’s office. During that meeting, Haley states, Putnam admitted having sexual intercourse with one of the children and engaging in other sexual acts with three others.

Assistant District Attorney Grant Huskey said the alleged rapes came to light after two of the children got together and talked about their experiences. Huskey said the oldest child had moved out of the family’s home. According to court documents, the Putnam’s other six children are in DHS custody.

Putnam is being held in Wagoner County Jail in lieu of a $250,000 bond.