Court This Week: Gary Siders Jr. is set to face trial this weekend on another h0rrifying cr!minal charge
One of four Vinton County adults facing charges related to allegations that 16 children were kept in a home in conditions described as horrific could be in court later this week.
Gary Siders Jr. is facing four misdemeanor counts of public indecency in a case that is thus far considered unrelated to the investigation into the children.
According to court records, Siders Jr. is accused of exposing himself on four separate dates in late May. He is currently scheduled for a pre-trial hearing on July 10 in MacArthur. The section of Ohio law charging Siders Jr. specifically says that Siders is accused of exposing himself to someone who is not a family member.
Public indecency is a fourth-degree misdemeanor with a maximum possible sentence of 45 days in jail.
Nearly a week into the investigation, authorities have not disclosed whether those charges have any connection to the case that ultimately drew national attention.
What happened in Vinton County, Ohio?
On June 30, Vinton County law enforcement and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation executed a search warrant at a home on the 100 block of Ohmer Street in Hamden, located about 80 miles southeast of Columbus.
Authorities found 16 children, ranging in age from about 18 months old to 18 years old, inside the home.
Siders Jr., Gary Siders Sr., Christina Siders and Elizabeth Siders were all taken into custody. Each face 16 counts of felony child endangerment.
Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson said the initial search warrant was for an ongoing investigation unrelated to the children’s living conditions. A second search warrant was executed at the home after the children were found.
Seven of the children were hospitalized in Columbus-area hospitals for medical treatment.
Some of the children were described as being unable to speak or walk and malnourished. Sheriff Ryan Cain said livestock are kept in better conditions than the children were found living in.
