Fairfield pediatrician indicted on new charges

Dr. R. Scott Blankenburg was indicted Friday, Dec. 4, on new sex and drug charges by a Butler County grand jury while out on bond awaiting trial.

Dr. R. Scott Blankenburg

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By Lauren Pack, Staff Writer Updated 10:35 AM Saturday, December 5, 2009

HAMILTON — Fairfield pediatrician Dr. R. Scott Blankenburg, who is awaiting trial in April on 22 sex and child pornography charges, was indicted on new charges Friday, Dec. 4.

Butler County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Anthony Dwyer said Blankenburg, 53, was booked into the county jail Friday night after a new indictment was handed down on three counts of unlawful sexual contact with a minor, one count of bribery, one count of complicity to obtain a dangerous drug and one count of complicity to possession of heroin. Butler County Prosecutor Robin Piper said the charges involve a man now in his 20s.

“This is a new victim that has recently come forward,” he said. The alleged abuse happened when the man was a minor. Piper did not know whether he was a former patient.

Greg Howard, who is representing Blankenburg along with attorney Jack Garretson, said at 8:30 p.m. Friday he was on his way to the jail to talk with the doctor. He said he had no idea new charges had been presented to a grand jury.

“Scott was in my office (Friday) afternoon. He was in Jack’s office,” Howard said. “We had no knowledge about this.”

Howard said the prosecutor’s office knows “very well” that Blankenburg is represented by counsel and that arrangements could have been made for Blankenburg to turn himself in. “But they waited until after close of business and arrested him,” Howard said.

Piper expressed concern about Blankenburg’s alleged continued criminal activity while out on bond. “It is alarming,” the prosecutor said.

According to the new indictment, the sex allegations were for incidents between June 2002 and 2003 but the bribery and drug charges are more recent; some of the alleged crimes occured after September.

The pediatrician was indicted in March on charges of compelling prostitution involving a minor; money laundering; corruption of a minor; bribery; complicity to bribery; gross sexual imposition; six counts of illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material or performance; pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor; and one count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity.

His twin brother, Dr. Mark Blankenburg, a Hamilton pediatrician, was convicted in October of 16 child sex charges for molesting former patients and five counts of drug trafficking and money laundering. He is scheduled to be sentenced Friday, Dec. 11.

Piper said a hearing had already been set in Scott Blankenburg’s case for Monday afternoon before Butler County Judge Noah Powers concerning depositions that Garretson will be taking oversees regarding evidence in the child pornograpy charges.

“I assume he will be arraigned then,” Piper said.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2168 or lpack@coxohio.com.

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