Both men claimed the Hamilton pediatrician gave them money — as much as $200 — to keep quiet about the incidents.
Those were just a few of the graphic insights revealed as former patients of the accused 53-year-old doctor took the stand during day three of his trial in Butler County Common Pleas Court.
A third man, 29, is expected to testify today, Oct. 8, while a fourth alleged victim may take the stand on Friday.
Blankenburg’s defense attorneys contend that the former patients made up the child sex allegations and extorted money from the doctor.
The 24-year-old described the cash payments he received from Blankenburg as “extortion” during testimony. When asked by Assistant Prosecutor Lance Salyers why he thought the doctor gave him money for years, he said, “Because of this, him on trial for molesting me.”
Doctor's accusers detail alleged abuse
A 24-year-old Hamilton man who said he was molested by Dr. Mark Blankenburg testified Wednesday, Oct. 7, that he took nearly $250,000 from the pediatrician between 2004 and 2008.
The man said Blankenburg “owed” him the money because of what he had done to him as a child, which allegedly included performing oral sex on him when he was 13.
The former patient was one of two men who took the stand Wednesday in Butler County Common Pleas Court and recounted stories of alleged sexual abuse at Blankenburg’s hands.
The men, 24 and 36, testified how the doctor gave them money and, in some instances, prescription drugs to keep quiet. It was money they used for cars, vacations and “to party.”
Blankenburg’s defense attorneys tried to paint their client as a victim of extortion and false allegations of child sexual abuse. They contend his accusers are people who would do anything for money, including sullying the name of a respected doctor and community member.
Blankenburg, 53, faces 41 counts of drug, child sex and money laundering offenses.
The 24-year-old testified Wednesday that he went to Blankenburg in May 2004 and asked the doctor, “Do you remember me?”
“He said, 'Yeah,’” the 24-year-old said. “I said, 'Do you remember what you did to me? He said, 'Yeah.’ I said, 'You know it was wrong?’ He said, 'Yeah.’ I said, 'I need $3,000.’”
That is when Blankenburg began paying in cash and prescriptions over a period of years up until his arrest, according to the man’s testimony.
The alleged victim said he left notes on the windshield of Blankenburg’s car and called his office using a code name to tell the doctor he needed money. Each time he was paid, the man said.
When detectives began investigating Blankenburg for writing false prescriptions, defense attorney Michael Shanks asked the man if he knew he could get in trouble for extortion.
The man said yes.
“You would have said or done anything to stay out of jail,” Shanks said.
The defense pointed to prior grand jury testimony and statements he made to detectives about differences in the number of times he said the molestation had occurred.
Shanks also noted a statement the man made to his girlfriend, that he was going to get everything he could out of Blankenburg before the “(expletive) hit the fan.”
The man did not deny making the statement.
The man said he began abusing drugs as a teen as a result of the psychological effects of what Blankenburg did to him, but admitted he was addicted before he went to the doctor for prescriptions.
The 24-year-old Hamilton man was the first of four alleged victims to testify against Blankenburg.
The man said he used the money, which kept coming until just days before Blankenburg was indicted in December, for rent, to “party,” and buy cars. He said he used the word extortion to describe taking money from Blankenburg when telling an investigator from the State Medical Board about the alleged abuse he suffered at the hands of Blankenburg.
When asked by Assistant Prosecutor Lance Salyers why he thought the doctor gave him money for years, he said, “Because of this, him on trial for molesting me.”
The man said he was a member of a Hamilton baseball team coached by Blankenburg and his twin brother, Dr. R. Scott Blankenburg, who has been indicted on similar charges of those facing his brother.
He spoke quietly and sipped water as he told about the first time Mark Blankenburg performed oral sex on him when he was 13.
“I was in the office for a visit and he (Blankenburg) just started on my belly,” the man said.
“I didn’t do anything, I didn’t know what to do,” the witness said. “… (he) gave me $200 and told me not to say nothing.”
The abuse continued several more times while he was a minor, the 24-year-old said.
A second former patient, a 36-year-old Hamilton man, told a similar story during testimony Wednesday. He said the Hamilton pediatrician performed oral sex on him during a visit to his F Street office for a sore throat.
“He (Blankenburg) began rubbing my private area the next thing I know he had his mouth on my privates,” the man said, noting he was 15 at the time. “He (Blankenburg) said, 'I am sorry that I did this and here is some money. I can make it better. Don’t tell anyone about this. If you need any more money call me or you can put a note on my car.’”
The 36-year-old said he asked for money numerous times to pay rent and family expenses. The doctor paid him to have oral sex with him dozens of times, the man said, adding Blankenburg would invite him to his residence, show him pornography and give him whiskey to drink. The encounter would lead to sex and more money, he testified.
From 1991 to 1995, the man said he had no contact with Blankenburg. But after a family tragedy, he approached the doctor again for money.
He left a note on Blankenburg’s car and received $200. With that money, he took a trip to Myrtle Beach, S.C., the witness said during testimony.
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