A former local doctor who lost his medical license for a sexual escapade here almost lost his freedom after he was accused of forcing himself on a woman in the bathroom of a convenience store in Dunlap.The embattled physician, Brad E. Blankenship, 56, took a plea deal recently in Sequatchie County, entering a guilty plea to the lesser charge of assault. He was originally charged with rape for the July 25 incident which involved his alleged encounter with a 52-year-old woman in a case of “he said, she said” in the Kangaroo convenience store off Highway 111.Blankenship was granted an 11-month, 29-day judicial diversion, meaning his criminal record will be erased as long as he completes his probation without incident. He could have faced up to 12 years.The allegations were made after the victim said Blankenship followed her to the bathroom and then sexually forced himself on her inside the bathroom.