By Sheila McLaughlin
The Cincinnati Enquirer

HAMILTON - A captain with the Butler County Sheriff's Department who was convicted Tuesday of driving under the influence avoided jail but lost his paycheck for two months.

Capt. Greg Blankenship, 46, was scheduled to appear for arraignment in Hamilton Municipal Court, but he pleaded guilty instead to the misdemeanor charge. In exchange, charges of having an open container and driving left of center were dropped.

His sentence included probation for two years, a $525 fine, completion of a three-day alcohol intervention class and loss of driving privileges until June 17, except for work.

Following the hearing, Sheriff Harold "Don" Gabbard placed Blankenship on a two-month unpaid job suspension, ordered him to complete alcohol counseling or evaluations, and warned him that he could be fired for future alcohol-related incidents.

Blankenship was arrested at 3 a.m. Saturday at New London Road and South C Street after Hamilton police observed Blankenship's car cross the center line, stop short of a red light, then swerve and nearly hit a curb.

A police report said Blankenship slurred his words and had difficulty taking his driver's license out of his wallet. An open can of beer was in the car. Blankenship refused a Breathalyzer test.

Blankenship had earlier attended an office holiday party at the home of Butler County Prosecutor Robin Piper.

Piper said Tuesday 100 people, including several police officers, attended the party, which was "generally from 6-8 p.m."

"I talked to him during the party, and he seemed just fine," he said. "I really don't know that he was drinking, to be honest."

In a statement issued after the court hearing, Blankenship apologized for driving drunk, saying he used poor judgment. He also said he thought the court sentence and his suspension were appropriate.

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E-mail smclaughlin@enquirer.com