Pediatrician pleads not guilty to 36 sex abuse, drug charges

THE WESTERN STAR

Blankenburg, 53, appeared on Friday, Jan. 16, before Judge Keith Spaeth, who scheduled the doctor's trial for the first 27 felony charges a grand jury handed down in December.

Defense attorney Michael Shanks entered a not-guilty plea for Blankenburg, who also was arraigned on the nine new charges handed down by the grand jury on Wednesday.

Spaeth split the $1 million bond he set in December to $500,000 in each case. Blankenburg's attorneys have filed a motion with the Ohio Supreme Court to have that bond lowered, claiming it is excessive.

Blankenburg will next be in court on Feb. 13, when the prosecution will argue to consolidate the cases and have the doctor stand trial once for all 36 charges.

Assistant Prosecutor Brenda Cox said the Hamilton Police Department and the prosecutor's office continue to receive calls about Blankenburg and would pursue further charges if evidence comes to light.

If Blankenburg is able to post bond, Cox said the prosecution would file a motion to stop him from practicing medicine until the case is resolved.

"We will take steps to prevent him from seeing patients," she said.

Members of Blankenburg's staff were in court during the hearing. Some wiped away tears. All declined comment.

The charges released Wednesday are four counts of gross sexual imposition, two counts of trafficking in drugs, one count of compelling prostitution, and two counts of corruption of a minor.

The compelling prostitution count alleges the doctor offered compensation for sex with one of the alleged victims in May 1994.

According to the indictment, the sexual imposition charge occurred in 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1996; the corruption of a minor incidents allegedly occurred in 1994 and 1995; and the drug-trafficking incidents occurred between July 1, 1996, and Dec. 31, 2005.

Blankenburg, of the 500 block of South Washington Boulevard, was indicted on Dec. 17 for one count of corruption of a minor, two counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, two counts of corrupting another with drugs and 22 counts of trafficking in drugs, including Xanax, Valium and Oxycodone.