A 58-year-old Greenwood man is facing rape and child exploitation charges after investigators say he abused a child for roughly two years, then printed photographs of the abuse and left them in her boyfriend's vehicle. Fred Couto was taken to the Johnson County Jail in August 2026 after the case came to light in an unusual way: he flagged down an off-duty Brown County Sheriff's Office deputy at a Greenwood gas station, seeking legal advice about the child's accusations against him.
According to the Daily Journal, Couto approached the deputy on August 8 at a BP gas station at U.S. 31 and Declaration Drive, asking him to answer questions about an incident involving a younger woman. Couto reportedly told the deputy he wanted advice because the girl was stating that he raped her. That encounter, handled first by the out-of-county deputy, was ultimately turned over to Greenwood police, who opened the investigation that led to Couto's arrest.
Court documents cited by the outlet indicate the abuse began around June 2024, when the child alleges Couto started speaking to and touching her inappropriately. The child told police the abuse escalated and became more frequent over time, and that she moved out of Couto's house earlier this summer. She said she verbally told Couto no each time the abuse occurred, though she remained silent during some incidents out of fear, and the affidavit describes Couto forcing himself on her despite her begging him to stop.
Photos Allegedly Taken on a Tripod, Then Printed
Investigators say photos recovered in the case appear to show the child alone and seemingly with Couto, taken by a phone that had been propped up or placed on a tripod. Police reported that the images appeared to depict child sexual abuse material and were placed into evidence as such, per the affidavit reviewed by the Daily Journal. Couto allegedly printed the photos and left them in the vehicle belonging to the child's boyfriend, an act the affidavit ties to jealousy — Couto reportedly became jealous of the boyfriend and threatened to show photos and videos of the abuse.
The affidavit also states Couto threatened the child that he would claim she came onto him and was lying if she ever told anyone. When questioned, Couto admitted to having sex with the child and knowing her age, though he also told investigators his partner's young female relative came onto him and insisted they have intercourse, and separately said he was drunk at the time. He reportedly told police he wanted to get back at the child and confirmed he printed the abuse photos and left them in the boyfriend's vehicle.
A Greenwood officer investigating the case found a separate instance involving Couto distributing images of the abuse, and police seized and searched his phone as part of the inquiry.
Charges Carry Years-Long Advisory Sentences
Couto is charged with rape as a Level 3 felony, which under Indiana Code § 35-42-4-1 applies when a perpetrator knowingly disregards a victim's physical, verbal, or visible refusal, and carries a range of three to sixteen years in prison. He also faces child exploitation with an aggravating factor as a Level 4 felony under Indiana Code § 35-42-4-4, carrying a term of two to twelve years, and child seduction by a guardian as a Level 5 felony under Indiana Code § 35-42-4-7, which carries one to six years. Indiana's advisory sentencing guidelines, outlined by Avnet Law, set non-binding benchmarks of nine years for Level 3 felonies, six years for Level 4, and three years for Level 5, which judges weigh against aggravating and mitigating factors.
County arrest records published on August 11 show Couto was booked without bond on additional charges including possession of child pornography and distribution of an intimate image, commonly known as revenge porn. A conviction on the child sex offenses would also trigger mandatory, lifelong registration on Indiana's Sex Offender Registry, according to legal resources including CAM Lawyers, and would statutorily bar Couto from working for state agencies or contractors in roles serving children under Indiana Code § 4-13-2-14.7.
Case Heads to Johnson Superior Court 3
The affidavit was filed in Johnson Superior Court 3, where Judge Douglas Brian Cummins has presided since 2022 and ran unopposed in the May 2026 primary. Couto's initial hearing is scheduled for Monday in that same court. The division has handled other serious child abuse cases recently — in June 2026, Cummins sentenced a 44-year-old man to 40 years in prison following a conviction for Level 1 child molestation, according to the Brown County Democrat.
It remains unclear whether additional charges or co-defendants could emerge as investigators continue searching Couto's digital devices, or whether formal bail conditions will be set following his initial hold without bond. Those questions are expected to come into focus as the case proceeds through Monday's hearing.
