Common Pleas Judge Noah Powers signed an entry setting bond also must be fitted with an electronic monitor, according to court officials.
Defense attorney Greg Howard said at 11:10 a.m. today, Dec. 15, the bond had been posted for Blankenburg. At 4 p.m., he was out of jail and being fitted with an electonic ankle bracelet, according to Butler County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Anthony Dwyer. At 12:30 p.m. today, he was still listed as an inmate at the Butler County Jail.
Blankenburg was arrested earlier this month on three counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, bribery, complicity to deception to obtain dangerous drugs complicity possession of heroin.
The doctor was indicted earlier this year on 22 counts of sex and child-pornography charges and is scheduled to stand trial in April. He was free on bond until the new indictment was released.
During a brief hearing Dec. 7, Howard asked Butler County Common Pleas Judge Noah Powers to continue the bond in the first indictment or release the doctor on his own recognizance, noting Blankenburg has never failed to show up for court and is in consistent contact with his attorneys as they prepare for his trial.
Powers declined to revoke bond or set a new bond for Blankenburg at the hearing and requested pretrial services evaluate him and make a recommendation.
Assistant Prosecutor Lance Salyers, who filed a motion to have Blankenburg’s bond revoked, said the doctor continued criminal behavior while free on bond. Salyers had no comment today about the doctor’s bond.
Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2168 or lpack@coxohio.com.
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