A month after 16 children were found inside a home in Vinton County where conditions were described as deplorable, the status of criminal cases against the four adults in the home has hardly changed.
Currently charged with 16 counts of felony child endangerment are Christina Siders, 67, Elizabeth Siders, 33, Gary Siders Sr., 73, and Gary Siders Jr., 36.
The counts each connect to one of the children found on June 30. The children ranged in age from about 18 months old to 18 years old.
As of 2 p.m. on July 31, a Vinton County grand jury had not issued an indictment against any of the four Siders family members. Here's where each person's case stands.
Christina Siders
Kandra Roberts, an attorney with the Ohio Public Defender's office, has asked that Christina Siders
undergo a psychiatric evaluation to determine if she is competent to stand trial.
Roberts filed several documents under seal in support of the request, which has been granted.
Christina Siders has asked for her bond to be reduced to allow her to stay with family on a GPS monitor. As of July 31, no decision has been made on that request.
Elizabeth Siders
As of July 31, Elizabeth Siders is the only one of the four defendants to not request a competency evaluation. Her attorney, Tommy Stolly, has said his office continues to investigate what her role may have been in any alleged crimes and whether she could also be a victim.
Gary Siders Jr.
Lee Roberts, the attorney for Gary Jr., has asked that his client also be evaluated to determine his competency to stand trial.
That request has been granted. Roberts filed additional documents under seal in support of his request.
Siders Jr. also faces four misdemeanor counts of public indecency. A pretrial hearing on those charges is scheduled for Aug. 13.
Gary Siders Sr.
Gary Sr. remains hospitalized and receiving treatment for a serious medical condition discovered after he fell while in custody.
His bond was reduced to a recognizance bond so Vinton County would not be financially responsible for his medical care. It is unclear when he might be released.
Dorian Baum, Siders Sr.'s attorney, has asked that his ability to stand trial be evaluated. Baum expressed concerns about his client's physical and mental limitations even before the fall.
Other Vinton County cases
Gag orders have been issued in Christina Siders and Gary Siders Jr.'s cases. The Dispatch has filed a lawsuit with the Ohio Supreme Court challenging both of those orders.
The Dispatch believes the orders were granted without the proper hearings or evidentiary findings required by law.
Additionally, The Dispatch is challenging the decision to seal documents tied to search warrants executed on June 30 at the Siders family home.
Vinton County officials have not responded to either of The Dispatch's legal challenges, as of July 31.
Reporter Bethany Bruner can be reached at bbruner@dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: One month later, here's where legal cases stand in Vinton County child abuse case
