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Prosecutor: Pediatrician abuse case may involve more victims
Piper says new information has him asking for others to come forward.
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
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Dr. Mark E. BlankenburgHAMILTON — Butler County Prosecutor Robin Piper said his office has reason to believe there may be other victims in the child-sex and drug dealing case against Hamilton pediatrician Dr. Mark E. Blankenburg.
"We've received some very significant information that has enlarged our investigation," Piper said Tuesday, Jan. 6, two days before Blankenburg, 52, is scheduled to be back in court on 27 felony charges. "The information has given us reason to believe there may be other victims out there, and we are asking them to come forward."
Piper declined to comment if additional charges would be filed against Blankenburg or anyone else.
Meanwhile, Blankenburg's attorney, Chris Pagan, on Tuesday filed a motion with the Ohio Supreme Court claiming his client is unlawfully imprisoned in the Butler County Jail. Pagan asked the highest court in the state to set a "reasonable" bond for the doctor.
Blankenburg was arraigned Dec. 18 by Butler County Common Pleas Judge Keith Spaeth, who set bond at $1 million. He was taken into custody and has remained in jail.
Pagan said his client has a constitutional right to a reasonable bond and, "the bond he has now is excessive."
Pagan said Blankenburg has ties to the area and no criminal history, which should allow for a bond that will assure his appearance in court but gives him the chance to be free to assist with his defense. The attorney also noted Hamilton police have possession of Blankenburg's passport, which they took when they searched his residence and office in November 2007.
Blankenburg, of the 500 block of South Washington Boulevard, is facing 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. The drugs include Xanax, Valium and Oxycodone.
The doctor, who has an office at 25 N. F St., is accused of having sexual conduct with a minor between January 1999 and Dec. 31, 2001. The drug charges stem from incidents in 2005, 2006 and 2007, according to the indictment.
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ntact this reporter at (513) 820-2168 or lpack@coxohio.com.
