BUCYRUS—Raymond Blankenship, 51, of Bucyrus, pleaded guilty to violating the terms and conditions of his bond. A new charge of domestic violence was dismissed when the victim refused to cooperate. Blankenship admitted to making numerous calls from the jail to the victim, violating the no-contact order. He admitted that he took what he thought was Zanex but was actually fentanyl.
Crawford County Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold accepted Blankenship’s admission and allowed attorneys to argue for sentencing.
Blankenship was on community control after pleading guilty to one count of domestic violence, a felony of the fourth degree punishable with up to 18 months in prison, and one count of possession of drugs, a felony of the fifth degree punishable with up to 12 months in prison. Blankenship was charged with a new domestic violence case, but it was dismissed when the victim recanted.
Assistant Prosecutor Ryan Hoovler told the court that Blankenship had been unable to comply with the conditions of bond by violating the no-contact order with his victim. Hoovler said that Blankenship’s drug use was directly correlated to his violent behavior. Hoovler asked the court to impose the original 30 months in prison.
Blankenship’s attorney Ed Bibler asked the court to allow his client to seek in-patient drug treatment. He told the court Blankenship sought treatment, but it was not possible to get into treatment due to Covid. Bibler also told the court, “I’m not sure how Mr. Blankenship was able to contact the victim when the jail has the ability to block numbers. The jail should have circumvented his ability to make those calls,” Bibler said.
Judge Leuthold asked Blankenship if he had anything to say. Blankenship reiterated Bibler’s statements saying he wanted treatment.
Judge Leuthold told Blankenship: “Drugs and alcohol are a problem. After 12/2/20, there were no treatment attempts. There was lots of counseling available. We tried this, and it didn’t work. If this were a straight drug case, I might give you another chance. But this is a case that involves violence.” Leuthold said.
Judge Leuthold sentenced Blankenship to ten months in prison on the domestic violence charge and six months in prison on the drug possession charge for a total of 16 months in prison.
Blankenship will receive 140 days of jail time credit. Leuthold told Blankenship he would not oppose transitional control if the prison requests it.