The criminal case against the grandfather of 16 children found living in a Vinton County home will not move forward.
In an Oct. 6 entry, Vinton County Common Pleas Court Judge Laina Fetherolf Rogers said
charges against 73-year-old Gary Siders Sr. have been dismissed.
Siders appeared in court on Sept. 9 to discuss a psychological evaluation done in his case. At that time, the attorneys agreed Siders was not mentally competent to stand trial.
Siders had faced 10 felony and six misdemeanor charges of endangering children.
The Oct. 6 entry says the case is dismissed without prejudice, meaning it could be refiled at a later date. That is unlikely given what the attorney for Siders has described as his mental state. Dorian Baum, Siders' attorney, said Siders is unable to give direct answers to questions, has memory issues and has not been able to grasp the circumstances of his charges.
The Oct. 6 entry says the court will keep jurisdiction over Siders so that a civil commitment proceeding can take place in probate court.
Siders faced charges after 16 of his grandchildren were found on June 30 in a home in Hamden. The conditions in the home have been described as unsanitary and unhealthy.
The children's parents, Gary Siders Jr. and Elizabeth Siders, are charged with multiple counts of felony child endangerment. Christina Siders, the children's grandmother, is also charged.
Attorneys for all of the Siders have requested psychological evaluations for their clients.
On Oct. 2, the attorney for Christina Siders asked to be allowed to have the 67-year-old examined by a neuropsychologist. Some of the mental symptoms she appears to exhibit, court records say, could be the result of dementia and have an impact on whether the case against her will move forward.
Editor Bethany Bruner can be reached at bbruner@dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Vinton County child abuse case against Gary Siders Sr. dismissed
