More than two months after authorities found 16 children inside a Vinton County home, some of the adults charged in connection with the criminal case have not appeared in court since their first appearances in July.
Christina Siders, 67, and her husband, Gary Siders Sr., 73, have scheduled hearing dates in Vinton County Common Pleas Court in September.
It is unclear when Gary Siders Jr., 36, and Elizabeth Siders, 33, will next appear.
Authorities arrested the Siderses on June 30 after searching their Ohmer Street home in Hamden. They found the children, ranging in age from about 8 months old to 18 years old, in conditions they allege were unsanitary and unsafe. Several of the children were hospitalized.
On July 1, all four Siders adults appeared
in Vinton County Common Pleas Court, where Judge Laina Fetherolf Rogers set bond at $300,000 each.
Since that time, only Gary Siders Jr. has appeared in open court.
On Aug. 21, a Vinton County grand jury indicted the four Siderses and two other men connected to the family. The Ohio Attorney General's Office announced the charges with Vinton County Prosecutor William Archer and Sheriff Ryan Cain.
But weeks later, an indictment accusing Elizabeth Siders of engaging in a sexual conduct with a minor has not been made public.
Why hasn't Elizabeth Siders been arraigned on second indictment?
Those charges against Elizabeth Siders, which officials said consisted of sexual battery and unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, were still not visible on the Vinton County Clerk of Courts website as of 11 a.m. Sept. 4. The indictment was publicly announced Aug. 21.
Archer has not responded to questions about why the indictment is not yet publicly visible.
In many counties, particularly when a defendant is in police custody, an arraignment is held within days of an indictment.
Siders Jr. appeared Aug. 26 – five days after the second indictment – for an arraignment. That indictment accuses him of engaging in sexual conduct with a minor. He remains in custody in lieu of $550,000 bond.
Do Gary Siders Sr. and Christina Siders have scheduled court dates?
Gary Siders Sr. is next expected to be in a Vinton County courtroom Sept. 9 for a hearing to discuss his mental state. His attorney requested a forensic psychological evaluation to determine if Siders understands the charges against him, can assist in his defense and whether he could understand any alleged actions he took were wrong.
Siders Sr. has been on house arrest with a GPS monitor since mid-July. His bond was reduced after a fall that led to the discovery of a serious medial condition that required hospitalization. Vinton County officials said paying for his medical bills – which would be required if he remained in custody – could have bankrupted the county.
Christina Siders has a hearing scheduled for Sept. 21. Her attorney requested the $300,000 bond set in July be lowered or reduced to a recognizance bond so Christina can deal with health issues. The Vinton County Prosecutor's office opposes the request.
Neither Siders Sr. or Christina Siders have appeared for arraignments on the Aug. 21 indictments, according to court records.
No new court dates had been listed for Elizabeth Siders or Gary Siders Jr. as of Sept. 4.
Elizabeth Siders' attorney requested to have her client's bond reduced, and the prosecutor's office has opposed that request. No bond hearing was scheduled as of 11 a.m. Sept. 4.
Two other people were indicted Aug. 21 in connection with a series of investigations that led to the June 30 discovery of the children.
Joshua Saunders III, 23, a nephew of Siders Jr., appeared in Vinton County Common Pleas Court on Aug. 24. Court records show Saunders faces charges of rape and gross sexual imposition involving a minor. His bond was set at $250,000 and no additional court dates have been scheduled.
Brandon Henderson Sr., 40, the partner of Saunders' mother, faces multiple counts of gross sexual imposition and sexual battery. He also appeared in court Aug. 24 and had his bond set at $250,000. No additional court dates have been scheduled.
What charges are the Siders family facing in Vinton County?
Christina Siders
- Two counts of endangering children, second-degree felonies
- 10 counts of endangering children, third-degree felonies
- Seven counts of endangering children, all first-degree misdemeanors.
Gary Siders Sr.
- 10 counts of endangering children, all third-degree felonies
- Six counts of endangering children, first-degree misdemeanors
Gary Siders Jr.
- Two counts of endangering children, second-degree felonies
- 10 counts of endangering children, third-degree felonies
- Seven counts of endangering children, all first-degree misdemeanors
- Two counts of sexual battery, third-degree felonies
- Two counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, third-degree felonies
Elizabeth Siders
- Two counts of endangering children, second-degree felonies
- 10 counts of endangering children, third-degree felonies
- Seven counts of endangering children, all first-degree misdemeanors.
- Two counts of sexual battery, third-degree felonies
- Two counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, third-degree felonies
Joshua Saunders III
- Three counts of rape, all first-degree felonies
- One count of gross sexual imposition, a third-degree felony
Brandon Henderson Sr.
- One count of endangering children, second-degree felony
- Two counts of endangering children, third-degree felonies
- Four counts of gross sexual imposition, third-degree felonies
- Four counts of gross sexual imposition, third-degree felonies
- Eight counts of sexual battery, fourth-degree felonies
- Two counts of endangering children, first-degree misdemeanors
Reporter Bethany Bruner can be reached at bbruner@dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Where do Vinton County court cases against the Siders family stand?
