News
Vinton County’s prosecutor says a “medical issue” contributed to Gary Siders Sr.’s bond modification
By: Aaron Payne
Posted on:
ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) – The oldest of four adults charged after 16 children were removed from a Vinton County home is out on bond and receiving treatment after a “medical issue.”
Gary Siders Sr., the grandfather of the children, fell while authorities were transporting him to a scheduled court appearance Tuesday. His lawyer filed a motion to modify his bond from a $300,000 cash or surety bond to a recognizance bond so he could have his physical and mental health evaluated.
Vinton County Judge Laina Rogers granted the motion later that day, with the stipulation he wear a GPS tracker in the event he’s released from the hospital.
Siders Sr. was taken to OhioHealth O’Blenness Hospital in Athens, where it was determined he has a “serious medical condition that requires specialized care in a hospital outside of this area,” according to Archer.
When someone convicted of a crime and is being held in prison needs medical care, the state pays for it. When someone waiting in jail before their trial needs medical care, however, the county is responsible for the cost.
“Based on the information that we were provided, his medical care could potentially bankrupt Vinton County,” Archer said. “We were not going to put that burden also on our local taxpayers, so it was agreed that we would do a recognizance bond.”
Siders Sr.’s attorney, Dorian Baum, also filed a motion to have his client’s competency evaluated.
“Furthermore, during the interactions between Counsel and the Defendant, it was clear to Counsel that the Defendant exhibited significant confusion about the legal process, was unable to describe the specific roles of the various participants in the court proceedings … and was unable to describe even basic facts about himself,’ Baum wrote in the motion.
Siders Sr., along with Gary Siders Jr., Elizabeth Siders and Christina Siders each face 16 counts of child endangerment. They all waived their preliminary hearings on Tuesday.
They could have their cases heard by a Grand Jury later this month. Archer reminded the public Vinton County typically forms a Grand Jury every other month.
“This is not Franklin County who has Grand Juries every day,” Archer said. “We don’t have Grand Jury that often.”
Prosecutor says the 16 children are safe
The 16 children, who range in age from 18 months to 18 years, were removed from the home June 30. Seven were taken to hospitals around the state to be evaluated, with two care-flighted to level one trauma centers.
Archer declined to comment on the specifics of their conditions, but said they are “safe and being cared for.” They are in the temporary custody of Vinton County Public Children Services Agencies.
Authorities previously said one of the challenging aspects of the case was communicating with the children, who appear to have had little formal education.
Another challenge may be tracking down documentation to fill in the gaps.
“I don’t know if we have all of their birth certificates,” Archer said.
One thing the prosecutor said that people can do to help the children is to avoid sharing misinformation about the case online.
“All I can do is shrug my shoulders and say why are we doing this,” Archer said. “Particularly to these victims because they’re going to be tarnished by this for a long part of their lives.”
New information provides some more insight into the family
Archer and other law enforcement officials have declined to dive into the details of the case as the investigation continues.
Reporters, however, tried to ask Archer questions the public has been circulating on social media.
Records show a warrant was issued for Siders Jr. on four public indecency charges the same day that the children were discovered in the home.
Archer declined to say if this was the “unrelated investigation” that led to the children’s removal from the home, but did say Siders Jr.’s court appearance Thursday on those charges has been delayed.
“His defense attorney is on vacation and has filed to continue,” Archer said.
To Archer’s knowledge, the Siders had no relationship to the owner of the home they live in other than as tenants. The owner had died and the home was placed in a trust.
“They were paying rent,” Archer said.
People on social media have questioned how the Siders were making money. One reporter asked if the family was receiving assistance from the state.
“Grandpa and grandma were the only ones I’m aware of that were receiving benefits at the time of this incident,” Archer said.
Archer declined to comment on how any other money was made for the family.
WOUB Summer Internship reporters Lena Donatelli and Thomas Billington contributed to this story.