1 BEFORE THE TEACHER STANDARDS AND PRACTICES COMMISSION

2 OF THE STATE OF OREGON

3

4 In the Matter of the ) DEFAULT ORDER OF

5 Teaching License of ) LICENSE REVOCATION

6 ROBERT GREGORY BLANK )

7

8 On June 26, 2012, the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission

9 (Commission) issued a Notice of Opportunity for Hearing to Robert Gregory Blank
10 (Blank) in which the Commission charged him with Gross Neglect of Duty and Gross
11 Unfitness. The Notice was sent via U.S. First Class Mail and U.S. Certified Mail Receipt
12 7010 2780 0000 2187 3545 to the address 0n file with the Commission. The Notice
13 designated the Commission file as the record for purposes of proving a prima facie case.
14 The Certified Mail was signed for on June 27, 2012. The regular mail was not returned
15 to the Commission. The Notice of Opportunity of Hearing, dated June 26, 2012, and
16 signed by Victoria Chamberlain, Executive Director, stated:
l7
18 “IF A REQUEST FOR HEARING IS NOT RECEIVED WITHIN THIS 21-DAY
19 PERIOD, YOUR RIGHT TO A HEARING SHALL BE CONSIDERED WAIVED
20 UNLESS YOUR FAILURE TO REQUEST A HEARING WAS BEYOND YOUR
21 REASONABLE CONTROL. IF YOU DO NOT REQUEST A HEARING OR IF
22 YOU FAIL TO APPEAR AT A HEARING, THE COMMISSION WILL ADOPT AN
23 ORDER OF DEFAULT WHICH MAY INCLUDE THE REVOCATION OR
24 SUSPENSION OF YOUR LICENSE OR OTHER DISCIPLINE.”
25
26 Blank did not request a hearing. The Commission, therefore, finds Blank to be in default
27 and enters the following findings of fact, conclusions of law, and final order, based on
28 the files and records of the Commission concerning this matter.
29 FINDINGS OF FACT
30 1. Robert Gregory Blank has been licensed by the Commission since January 21, 2005.
31 Blank’s Initial I Teaching License with an endorsement in Multiple Subjects Self
32 Contained (ECE, ELE), was issued on May 31, 2008, and would have expired on May
33 30, 2011; however, on April 14, 2011, Blank made timely application for renewal. Due
34 to his timely application, his licensure status was extended pending the completion
35 of the Commission’s investigation. During all relevant times, Blank was employed by
36 either the North Clackamas School District or the Gresham-Barlow School District.
37

PAGE 1-DEFAULT ORDER OF LICENSE REVOCATION - BLANK, ROBERT GREGORY

1 2. On February 12, 2010, the Commission was notified by the Portland Police Bureau
2 that Blank was under investigation for allegations of sex abuse which reportedly
3 occurred on or around 1994-1997 in California, and 2000-2001 in Oregon.
4
5 3. The 2000-2001 allegations came to light after Blank, while intoxicated, confessed to
6 his sister Barbara Lane, that he had on or around 2000-2001, sexually abused a
7 former girlfiiend’s then teenage niece. This was later reported by Lane to Blank’s
8 daughter Breann Blank-Sprague, who then disclosed that she had been sexually
9 abused by Blank between the years 1994-1997. Concerned that Blank’s sex abuse
10 was not isolated to only his daughter, and out of concern about Blank’s exposure to
11 students as a teacher, she (Blank-Sprague) reported the 2000-2001 sex abuse to the
12 Department of Human Services. The resulting law enforcement investigation
13 identified the reported victim of the 2000-2001 allegations as Leslie Triplett, a
14 family friend, (not the niece) of one of Blank’s ex-girlfriends. Triplett denied any
15 sexual abuse and refused to cooperate wifli the investigation. Triplett did tell
16 authorities that she had heard that Blank had sexually abused his daughter in the
17 past. This led authorities back to Blank-Sprague, who confirmed that Blank had
18 sexually abused her when she was a teenager, sometime between 1994 and 1997.
1 9
20 4. According to the Commission investigation and police reports, on or around 1994-
21 1997, Blank resided with his daughter, Breann Blank-Sprague in California. Blank
22 subjected his daughter, who was a teenager at the time, to the following: Blank
23 provided her with Marijuana and methamphetamines; requested that she watch
24 pornographic movies with him; Blank offered t0 show her how to shave her pubic
25 hair; verbally instructed her on how to perform oral sex on a man and how to
26 masturbate herself; Blank showed her nude photos of his girlfriends and asked to see
27 her naked and Blank masturbated in front of her and masturbated while rubbing his
28 penis on her back. Local authorities elected not to file criminal charges despite
29 having audio recordings of Blank admitting to these allegations because the victim,
30 Blank’s daughter, later recanted her story and refused to cooperate further.
3 l
PAGE 2-DEFAULT ORDER OF LICENSE REVOCATION - BLANK, ROBERT GREGORY

1 5. During the time of the law enforcement investigation and the Commission’s
2 investigation regarding the above allegations, Blank inappropriately influenced
3 witnesses to change their statements and withdraw their cooperation with
4 authorities. Blank told his daughter in a recorded phone conversation the following
5 excerpts; “I, I need you to protect me”, “I ’m begging you to not bring up our past.
6 I ’m begging you to protect me at all costs. I’m, I’m begging”, “I don’t want you to
7 share anything about our past with, with the drugs or the inappropriate
8 conversations. You have nothing to say. You love your dad.” Blank told his daughter
9 other similar statements encouraging her to not cooperate with authorities and
10 tampering with witnesses.
11 CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
12 During the times of 1994-1997, Robert Blank sexually abused his teenage
13 daughter as described above, and during 2000-2001, Robert Blank, sexually abused a
14 family friend, (not the niece) of one of Blank’s ex-girlfriends. During the course Of the
15 related investigations, Robert Blank inappropriately influenced witnesses to change
16 their statements and withdraw their cooperation with authorities. . This conduct
17 establishes that Blank does not possess good moral character or mental and physical
18 fitness as required to hold a license under ORS 342,143(2). This conduct also
19 constitutes gross neglect Of duty in violation Of ORS 342.175(1)(b); OAR 584-020-
20 0040(2) (An applicant fails to meet the requirement of ORS 342.143 “good moral
21 character” if the applicant engages in gross neglect 0f duty, gross unfitness, in
22 violation of section (4) of this rule or other acts which are in violation of sections (1 )
23 and (3) of this rule); OAR 584-020-0040(4)(n) as it incorporates OAR 584-020-
24 0010(5) (Use professional judgment), OAR 584-O20-OO10(1) (Recognize the worth and
25 dignity of all persons and respect for each individual); OAR 584-020-0040(4)(f) (Any
26 sexual conduct with a student). This conduct also constitutes gross unfitness in
27 violation of ORS 342.175(1)(c); OAR 584-020-oo4o(5)(b) (Fraud or
28 misrepresentation), and OAR 584-020-0040(5)(e) (Admission of or engaging in acts
29 constituting criminal conduct, even in the absence of a conviction).
30 The Commission’s authority to impose discipline in this matter is based upon
31 ORS 342.175.
PAGE 3-DEFAULT ORDER OF LICENSE REVOCATION - BLANK, ROBERT GREGORY

1 FINAL ORDER
2 The Commission hereby revokes the licensure of Robert Gregory Blank.
it

3 IT IS SO ORDERED THIS 20 Tiay of September, 2012.

4 TEACHER STANDARDS AND PRACTICES COMMISSION

5

6

7 By:

8 Victoria Chamberlain, Executive Director

9
10
11
12
13 NOTICE OF APPEAL OR RIGHTS
14
15 YOU ARE ENTITLED TO JUDICIAL REVIEW OF THIS ORDER. JUDICIAL REVIEW MAY
16 BE OBTAINED BY FILING A PETITION FOR REVIEW WITHIN 60 DAYS FROM THE
17 SERVICE OF THIS ORDER. JUDICIAL REVIEW IS PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF
18 ORS 183.482 TO THE OREGON COURT OF APPEALS.
19

PAGE 4-DEFAULT ORDER or LICENSE REVOCATION - BLANK, ROBERT GREGORY

CERTIFICATE OF MAILING
I hereby certify that I served the foregoing notice of final order, certified by me as such, by
mailing U.S. First Class Mail and U.S. Certified Mail—Return Receipt Requested, addressed
to:
Robert Gregory Blank
11375 NE Everett St
Portland, OR 97220
Wk
Dated this Q0 day of September, 2012.
By: MM/
Patty dell
Investigative Assistant
PAGE 1- CERTIFICATE OF MAILING-BLANK, ROBERT GREGORY