Man can’t sing his way out of prison

By Lauren Pack | Thursday, June 2, 2011, 11:47 AM

An aspiring country music artist was unable to sing his way out of prison today when he appeared for sentencing by Butler County Judge Keith Spaeth.

Thomas Keith of Somerset, Ky., was arrested in October after performing at a local club. Police found pills in his car.

According to police, Keith became combative and belligerent in the cruiser while being transported to jail.

Keith told the judge, despite his past record that includes assault and domestic violence arrests, he’s “not that man anymore.” In Kentucky, Keith said he makes a living writing and singing country tunes and is also a respected T-ball coach.

Spaeth asked what kind of songs Keith sang. He answered naming a few popular artists. “Do you ever sing any Johnny Cash songs,” Spaeth asked. “All those prison songs?”

A bit of foreshowing here?

Spaeth noted Keith is a likeable person with “quite the stage presence.”

But when the judge looked at Keith’s past record along with his failure to show up for a past court appearance, he decided time behind bars was warranted.

Keith was sentenced to eight months in prison after pleading guilty to possession of drugs. Spaeth urged Keith to take advantage of anger management classes in prison. He also promised the 33-year-old man if he ever took a big stage in Kentucky, he would attend in person.

That’s when Keith’s charm wore off. He turned to his girlfriend and was handcuffed, saying “This is (expletive).

Permalink | |

Deputy, I got here in the Redbox

By Lauren Pack | Tuesday, November 30, 2010, 03:49 PM

A Hamilton man who apparently had too much holiday cheer was found passed out early Thanksgiving morning on the toilet in the bathroom of a New Miami gas station then insisted he had arrived in a movie rental machine.

Butler County sheriff’s deputies were called to Thornton’s on U.S. 127 about 1:25 a.m. Thursday by a clerk who said she found Austin Michael Jones passed out in the men’s restroom.

While deputies were in route, Jones woke up and made his way to the parking lot where he laid down in the back seat of a customer’s car, according to a sheriff’s report.

Deputy William Brown said Jones was highly intoxicated and had difficulty speaking, but insisted that the Redbox kiosk located outside the store was how he arrived.

“He was asked how he got to the store, when he pointed to the Redbox and stated that brought him. He was asked where he came from, with him again stating the Redbox brought him to the store,” Brown said in his report.

Jones, 22, of South Wichita Drive, was charged with disorderly conduct and taken to the Butler County Jail. He pleaded no contest to the charge Monday in Hamilton Municipal Court and was found guilty by Judge Dan Gattermeyer who gave him a $125 fine.

Permalink | |

An odd, odd morning in Butler County court

By Lauren Pack | Thursday, August 26, 2010, 04:24 PM

After three hours on the bench Thursday, Butler County Common Pleas Judge Keith Spaeth looked out at the now empty courtroom and said “Well, it was a odd, odd morning.”

Indeed it was.

All the people who appear before a common pleas judge are in trouble — big trouble, meaning many go to prison. But sprinkled in the often tense sessions are moments of levity or at least some head scratching moments.

On Thursday, defense attorney Ken Crehan told the judge his client was hospitalized after being stung by a swarm of wasps, thus he was not in court.

Another man limped to the podium for sentencing and told the judge he may have to have his leg amputated because of spider bite and pulled up leg of his pants to show Spaeth proof.

Early in the day, another defendant also hiked up his pant leg to give the judge a look at his affliction.

“It’s like shark week around here,” Spaeth said, noting he won’t be going into the woods anytime soon.

Permalink | |

Shoot, don’t shoot, the decision’s not easy

By Lauren Pack | Monday, March 22, 2010, 05:11 PM

We are at about the halfway point in our 12-week adventure as students in the Middletown police department’s first citizens police academy.

It is educational, eye-opening and a blast!

I recommend it for anyone out there who believes patrolling the streets in Middletown is straight out of “The Andy Griffith Show” or an episode of “Law and Order.

It’s actually something in between.

Sessions in crime scene investigation with Detective David Shortt, who I nicknamed “Inspector Gadget” years ago, running radar and Special Response Team training have given us ordinary citizens an up close and personal look at the world of law enforcement.

But by far the most realistic and gut-wrenching session was the shoot, don’t shoot exercise.

Springfield police visited a couple weeks ago with Laser Shot and classmates took turns making split second decisions about when to use deadly force.

The Laser Shot system is used in police training and it puts the “officer” in a plethora of situations, where deciding when to shoot is a matter of live and death.

I didn’t do well.

As a long time crime reporter, I know use of force, deadly or otherwise, is a touchy subject. People question if the officer made the right decision. And it ends up in headlines, often with my name attached.

As I entered the training room, Chief Greg Schwarber was waiting. He had already told me he wanted to see me shoot.

Armed with a service weapon fitted with a laser, I pointed at the screen.

Then I was driving through a park much like Smith Park on a report of a suspicious person. I saw an old woman through my cruiser windshield.

The woman stood up and placed a gun to her head. “I’ll do it,” she screamed.

I didn’t shoot.

She screamed some more then started to walk toward me. Her finger on the trigger and the barrel of the gun to her head.

I didn’t shoot

As her steps quickened and her arm started to come down, I realized she was going to shoot at me.

I fired. But she had already shot me — dead.

It was just that fast. Amazing.

I was told I could have shot, according to policy, the minute she pulled out the gun, but most certainly when she walked toward me.

Guess I will never be a cop.

I felt a little defeated until I talked with a long time detective the next week.

“Oh, that’s a tough call,” he said. “They gave you a hard one.”

And to think any of our officers out there right now might have to make that decision before their shift ends.

I’ll stick to words.

Permalink | |

Sheriff to take on Bill Cunningham in Racquetball

By Lauren Pack | Wednesday, February 24, 2010, 02:22 PM

Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones continues to be dedicated to keeping fit after dropping major weight last year.

On Friday, Feb. 26, he will show off his physique for charity in a celebrity challenge racquetball match with 700 WLW Radio Talk Show personality Bill Cunningham.

The match is scheduled for 4 p.m. at the Central YMCA on Market Street in downtown Hamilton.

The sheriff and Cunningham will duel it out on the racquetball court in an effort to raise funds for local YMCA programs, and to establish “bragging rights” for the winner.

The event is open to the public. Tickets may be purchased at the Hamilton Central YMCA. Contact the YMCA at 513- 887-0001 for additional ticket purchase information.

Wilson Sports Equipment has agreed to donate up to two pink racquetballs in support of breast cancer awareness, to everyone in attendance.

“This should make for a fun way to end the work week,” said Jones. “More importantly, we can maybe raise a little money to help the local YMCA and show some support for breast cancer awareness. In the end, who knows? Maybe I can run Willie all over the court until he’s all out of breath. Maybe then I can say I’ve literally left him speechless.”

Permalink | |

Fairfield doc turns himself in early despite snowy weather

By Lauren Pack | Monday, February 15, 2010, 05:49 PM

Identical twin brothers who once had a combined pediatrics practice of an estimated 6,000 patients are both now behind bars, nearly ending a twisted case that Butler County Prosecutor Robin Piper described as “epic.”

Dr. R. Scott Blankenburg turned himself into Butler County deputies Monday morning, Feb. 15, to begin serving a 13-year prison sentence for sex and drug crimes involving minors.

The 54-year-old who practiced on Nilles Road in Fairfield clutched an envelope and prescription bottles as he walked from the parking lot to the lobby about 7:40 a.m.

Despite the heavy snowfall, he was early.

Last month he was sentenced to prison by Butler County Common Pleas Judge Noah Powers, but was given a stay until 8 a.m. to close up his practice, and the practice of his twin brother, Mark, which once operated on F Street in Hamilton.

In January, Scott 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.   Identical twin brother 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 after a jury trial before Butler County Judge Keith Spaeth. There was no stay for Mark, he kissed his bother across the courtroom rail and was led away to jail.

Before December 2008, the middle aged doctors were prominent residents talking pictures on the sidelines of Hamilton High School ball games, with league passes in hand and playing poker with well-respected residents, including police officers. But detectives were also investigating Mark Blankenburg, having served search warrants at the homes shared by the twins.

Scott Blankenburg’s walk to jail, on a snowy February day ended a two-year investigation, 12 months of multiple indictments and pre-trial motions and a 14-day trial. Prosecutors say they have offered Mark a plea bargain that, if he takes it, will negate his second trial.

It is possible, the twins will be able to spend time together before being transported to Ohio prisons.

Mark Blankenburg remains housed at the Butler County Jail because he is scheduled to stand trial in May on multiple child pornography charges that were severed from the charges in the first case. Chief Deputy Anthony Dwyer said the brothers could be housed in the same jail pod.

Permalink | |

Middletown trivia: Famous 1930s desperado housed in local jail

By Lauren Pack | Thursday, February 11, 2010, 04:51 PM

The second weekly session of the Middletown police citizens police academy was canceled Tuesday night, Feb. 9, do to snowy weather.

But we will resume with the 12-week program next week with some hands on activities scheduled — including running radar.

Can’t wait to be on the other end for a change!

Here are a few fun facts presented by Major Mark Hoffman during the academy’s first session about Middletown’s history.

How many do you know?

Q. Middletown does not have a Third Avenue. What current street used to be Third? A. Central Avenue.

Q. What road covers the site of the Miami Erie Canal? A. Verity Parkway.

Q What year did the last canal boat leave Middletown? A. 1906

Q. In 1923, the school board hired Elmo Lingrel as the head coach of the high school football team. Who did they pass up to offer the job to Lingrel? A. Knute Rockne.

Q. What prompted Middletown to build a hospital? A. A train wreck in July 1910 which killed 19 people and injured many others. The injured had to be taken to Hamilton and Dayton for medical treatment.

Q. What Middletown industrialist established the first school? A. Stephen Vail

Q. How much did it cost to build the first jail in Middletown? A. $10. It was an outhouse with bars.

Q. What desperado was captured in Middletown in 1930? A. Clyde Barrow, before he hooked up with his partner in crime Bonnie Parker. The duo was ambushed and killed four years later by law officers in Louisiana.

Barrow had escaped from a Texas jail and drove into Middletown in March 1930 where he and two others robbed Gough Lamb Dry Cleaners, which is still located on Charles Street.

While trying to escape Middletown police, Barrow wrecked the car and is believed to have thrown his gun into the hydraulic canal, according to police.

Permalink | |