A pediatrician was convicted Friday of 16 sex-related charges involving former patients as his twin brother, a pediatrician who is awaiting trial on similar counts, looked on.
Dr. Mark Blankenburg, 53, of Hamilton, stood before the verdicts were delivered, as ordered by a judge, but sat down as they were read.
Four men had testified that Mark Blankenburg molested or performed sex acts on them when they were teenagers. The sex charges involved only three of the accusers. The sex-related allegations made by the fourth accuser did not meet a legal deadline required to bring criminal charges.
Defense attorneys have said the sex allegations are false and that accusers extorted money and drugs from the doctor.
The Butler County jury deliberated for about 13 hours over two days before convicting Blankenburg of gross sexual imposition, corruption of a minor, pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor, compelling prostitution and complicity to compelling prostitution.
His twin brother, Scott Blankenburg, faces trial on 22 similar sex-related counts in April.
Blankenburg is also accused of giving his patients money and prescription drugs to keep quiet about the alleged molestation. Judge Keith Spaeth will determine his guilt on 25 remaining counts that include bribery and drug trafficking.
The investigation into Mark Blankenburg began in October 2007 after the State Medical Board of Ohio received a tip about allegedly improper prescription writing. Prosecutors say investigators learned of sex-abuse claims from a man being questioned about prescriptions the doctor had written for him. That man was one of the four accusers testifying in the trial.