East Providence nursing home resident charged with sexual assault

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Attorney General Peter Neronha said Friday that an East Providence man has been charged with sexually assaulting a nursing home staff member.

Joseph Couto was charged with three counts of second-degree sexual assault.

The 78-year-old was arrested on April 6 after police reviewed a recorded statement by a staff member at the Evergreen nursing home.

The victim alleged that Couto physically and verbally assaulted her, including inappropriately touched her and threatening to sexually assault her, multiple times beginning on December 25, 2022.

The defendant is scheduled for a pre-arraignment conference on July 26.