Sentencing for former O'Sullivan Industries official Gary Reed Blankenship, who pleaded guilty today in Newton County Circuit Court to two obscenity charges, will be held Oct. 19.
Judge Kevin Selby ordered a pre-sentence investigation, which is due by Oct. 12, according to court records.
Blankenship pleaded guilty to promoting obscene material to a minor and to possession of child pornography knowing of its content and nature, both Class D felonies.
Each count carries a maximum sentence of four years in prison. Officials with the Newton County Prosecuting Attorney's office indicate they will argue for the maximum sentence, which would be eight years with the two sentences to run concurrently.
Blankenship, 56, Neosho, is the latest success in Diamond Police officer Jim Murray's ongoing Internet sex stings. Murray entered a chat room pretending to be an underaged girl. Police say Blankenship propositioned the "teen," arranged for a meeting with her to have sex, then was arrested when he arrived on Jan. 27, 2005.
Blankenship was initially charged with eight counts of possession of child pornography, one count of enticing a child, and one count of promoting obscene material to a minor.
6 comments:
Jim Murray creeps me out. He's a little too good at what he does, and he gets a little too into it. The fact that he's so good at pretending to be an underage teenage girl that he can get men to arrange meetings with him is just kind of suspicious.
I am glad Blankenship finally just plead guilty and didn't waste taxpayer money on a trial....when he was CLEARLY guilty.
I am glad this man pled guilty too but I resent the fact that every time Mr. Blankenship is mentioned, so is O'Sullivan Industries. Employees here were shocked and appalled at this behavior and one has nothing to do with the other.
I think the reason its mentioned is because it is more shocking that someone that was an "executive" of a company would be faced with these type of charges.
Randy, he plead guilty in a McDonald Co. court...not Newton...he had a change of venue.
My understanding is he pleaded guilty in Newton County Circuit Court. Many times, even if the case has been sent elsewhere on a change of venue, if a defendant decides to enter a guilty plea, the hearing is held in the nearest court as a matter of convenience for the judges, lawyers, and defendant.
And while I do sympathize with the previous commenter's statement about O'Sullivan Industries, I find it important to mention the connection, not because of any aspersions it cast upon that company, but simply because it shows these kind of people can be found in all walks of lives. It is not just the stereotypical backwoods hillbillies, but people who wear suits and ties who commit this kind of atrocity.
Or people that are so called leaders of churches.
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