COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — The oldest of four people charged after 16 children were removed from a deteriorating home in Vinton County has been released from jail and is now receiving treatment at an Athens County hospital.
Speaking Wednesday afternoon from McArthur, where the case is set to be prosecuted, Vinton County Prosecutor Williams Archer shared new details on the latest developments. The four adults charged with 16 counts of child endangerment are Gary Siders Sr., Christina Siders, Gary Siders Jr. and Elizabeth Siders.
Gary Siders Sr., 73, was taken to an Athens hospital Tuesday after falling while being transported from the jail. His cash or surety bond has since been changed to a recognizance bond that includes GPS monitoring. Once at the hospital, doctors identified a serious medical condition and recommended he be moved to another facility with a higher level of care.
Court filings also show that an attorney for Gary Siders Sr. submitted a motion Wednesday morning asking for a competency evaluation. Defense counsel had previously sought to lower or remove his $300,000 bond, a request that was partly resolved when the court modified the bond terms.
“It was clear to counsel that the defendant exhibited significant confusion about the legal process, was unable to describe specific roles of the various participants in the court proceedings and unable to describe even basic facts about himself,” the motion stated.
Archer said officials shifted the bond to a recognizance bond to prevent the county from bearing the cost of Siders’ medical treatment. Counties are required to pay medical expenses for people held in their jails, and Archer said the potential expense could have financially overwhelmed Vinton County if the bond had not been revised.
Archer did not share any new details about the 16 children, whose ages range from 18 months to 18 years. He said they are “all safe and are being cared for,” though he could not confirm whether his office has obtained birth certificates for each of them.
The prosecutor also said additional legal support will assist with the case at no cost to the county. While Vinton County will remain in charge of the prosecution, Kara Keating, a special prosecutor with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, and Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins will help with the proceedings.
The child endangerment charges came after at least seven children were hospitalized from living in squalor inside a home in Hamden, a community about 700 people about 80 miles south of Columbus. All four defendants waived their initial court appearance Tuesday.
Tommy Stolley, who is representing Elizabeth Siders, said he is evaluating his client’s case and is unsure the course his office will take in their defense.
“At this point in time we are still not sure at least at my office whether my client is a victim herself or not,” he said. “I have previously stated she does not necessarily characterize herself as a victim but the investigation from the prosecutor’s office, the investigation from my office is still ongoing.”
Siders II is also facing a separate charge of indecent exposure was was scheduled to appear in court Thursday, but that has been postponed to a later date.
Attorneys for Christina Siders and Gary Siders II have yet to respond to a request for comment by NBC4.
Additional comments offered by Archer included that the family was paying rent at the Ohmer Street residence where the children were found, and that Gary Siders Sr. and Christina Siders were receiving benefits from the State of Ohio.
Archer said a grand jury hearing typically occurs every other month, but hopes to have an update on that within the next two weeks.
