Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 06/04/2008

Contact person(s):

Media Coordinator, Donna Edwards - 565-3099 Media Spokesperson, Assistant District Attorney Christine M. Cook

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

PETALUMA DOCTOR RECEIVES PRISON TIME FOR PROVIDING METHAMPHETAMINE TO AND ENGAGING IN LEWD CONDUCT WITH A MINOR

Sonoma County District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua announced today that Dr. Robert Reeves Blakewood, 69, of Petaluma, was sentenced to 14 years, 8 months in state prison today for twelve separate felony charges stemming from his lewd conduct with a minor.

District Attorney Passalacqua said, “Sexual predators who use a position of trust to gain power over and abuse vulnerable children will not be tolerated.”

Dr. Blakewood was arrested in August, 2007 when a 16 year-old minor called the Petaluma Police Department for assistance. An investigation revealed that the Defendant met the minor over the internet and started a relationship with him. During the course of over a year, beginning when the victim was 15 years old, Defendant provided the minor with methamphetamine and engaged in sexual conduct with him. It was also discovered that Dr. Blakewood possessed child pornography. Defendant’s conduct spanned three counties, Alameda, Marin, and Sonoma County, and Defendant’s plea encompassed charges from each county.

Blakewood pled no contest to four counts of oral copulation with a minor, one count of transporting a minor for a lewd act, four counts of providing methamphetamine to a minor, one count of a lewd act on a minor who was fifteen years old, one count of sodomy with a minor under sixteen years old, and one count of possession of child pornography. Blakewood was remanded into custody after the proceedings to begin serving his sentence.

As a result of his pleas, Blakewood faced up to 21 years, 8 months in state prison. The District Attorney’s office sought the maximum sentence, which was also recommended by the Probation Department.

Deputy District Attorney Juliette Olson handled the prosecution. Petaluma Police Detective Mike Pierre was the lead investigator.