Blankenburg puffed on a cigarette and hugged family members as he walked in heavy snowfall from the parking lot on Hanover Street to the jail’s lobby. He clutched prescription bottles and a large envelope. At his side was one was his defense attorneys, Jack Garretson.
After Blankenburg was led away, Garretson talked with family members, all of whom had no comment, he said.
Last month, Blankenburg pleaded guilty to compelling prostitution, two counts of bribery, pandering sexually oriented material involving a minor, illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material, two counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and complicity to deception to obtain a dangerous drug. One of the charges involved a former patient.
He was sentenced to prison by Butler County Common Pleas Judge Noah Powers, but was given a stay until 8 a.m. Monday to close up his practice, and the former practice of his twin brother, Mark, on F Street in Hamilton.
Mark Blankenburg was sentenced to 21 to 27 years in prison for molesting three former patients, and for other charges stemming from money and drugs he gave the victims for years to keep quiet. He was found guilty in October but remains at the Butler County Jail awaiting a second trial in May on multiple child pornography charges that were severed from his first case.
Chief Deputy Anthony Dwyer said the brothers could be housed in the same jail pod, allowing for them to have contact.
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