A Vinton County judge has issued a second order limiting what information can be discussed publicly in the case involving four adults accused of keeping 16 children in conditions described as deplorable.
Common Pleas Judge Laina Fetherolf Rogers issued the order July 23 in the case of Christina Siders, 67.
The attorney for Siders requested the order on July 16, according to Vinton County court records. Fetherolf Rogers issued a similar order July 14 barring any information from being disseminated in the case of Gary Siders Jr., 36.
The order in Christina Siders' case provides more detail about the reasoning behind the order being issued, as well as outlining what information can and cannot be discussed and by whom.
The July 23 order says the gag
order was being issued "to ensure the integrity of the judicial process" and protect the right to a "fair and impartial trial by an untainted jury pool."
The order says attorneys for both the prosecution and defense – as well as any of their staff – investigators and expert witnesses, court officials and staff and anyone acting "as an agent or representative for the prosecution or the defense" from talking about the Siderses' case generally.
Fetherolf Rogers' order says information about scheduling, court dates or the general nature of a proceeding may be discussed. Information that is public record, or becomes part of the official public record, may be discussed.
Under the order, the people covered by the order may not "discuss, release or authorize the release" of information about the merits, facts, evidence, discovery materials or trial preparation information and may not offer any opinion "regarding the character, reputation, or credibility of the defendant, witnesses or alleged victims to the public, the media, or any person for the purpose of public dissemination."
Information may be released through public records requests, the order says, under the terms of Ohio's public records laws.
The order in Siders Jr.'s case does not specify the type of information or the people who would be covered by the order, saying "any public official" was barred from discussing the case.
The Dispatch has filed a lawsuit with the Ohio Supreme Court about the process through which that July 14 order was issued. Ohio court procedure requires a hearing to be held and other alternatives considered before a gag order can be issued.
There is no indication on the docket in Christina Siders' case that a hearing was scheduled or held between her attorney's request on July 16 request and the order being issued on July 23.
Christina and Gary Siders Jr. are two of the four adults charged with 16 counts each of felony child endangerment. Attorneys for the other two adults, Elizabeth Siders, 33, and Gary Siders Sr., 73, have not filed requests for gag orders as of July 23, according to Vinton County court records.
The Siderses are charged in connection with the June 30 discovery of 16 children inside a home on the 100 block of Ohmer Street in Hamden. The conditions inside the home were described by Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson as deplorable and beyond what would be expected in America. Vinton County Sheriff Ryan Cain said livestock were generally held in better conditions.
Reporter Bethany Bruner can be reached at bbruner@dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Vinton County judge issues second gag order in Christina Siders case
