Napoleon man receives up to more than 30 years in prison on sexual abuse charges

NAPOLEON — A Napoleon man was sentenced up to 33 years in prison this week in Henry County Common Pleas Court on three sexual abuse charges.

Adam Couts, 51, was given a minimum sentence of 25 years and a maximum of 33 years by Judge Amy Rosebrook on two counts of rape, a first-degree felony; and one count of sexual battery, a third-degree felony.

Couts had been sentenced to consecutive 11- to 16 1/2-year sentences on the rape charges and an additional three-year term on the sexual battery charge for a total minimum of 25 years.

He also was classified as a Tier III sexual offender, requiring the periodic registration of his address with authorities following release from prison, and he was given credit for 210 days served in the Corrections Center of Northwest (CCNO) while his case was pending.

An additional count of rape, a first-degree felony; and two additional counts of sexual battery, each a third-degree felony, were dismissed as part of the plea negotiations between Couts’ attorney, Clayton Gerbitz of Swanton, and Henry County Prosecutor Gwen Howe-Gebers’ office.

The indictment alleged that Couts engaged in sexual conduct with a mentally challenged adult female on a number of occasions.

He had pleaded guilty to the charges on Aug. 5 when a pre-sentence investigation was ordered.

Pending his transportation to a state prison, Couts was being held Thursday in CCNO where he has been held since Feb. 1. He was indicted by a Henry County grand jury in February.