Vinton County Child Endangerment Case: Siders Get Attorneys
4 members of the Siders family facing child endangerment charges in Vinton County have been assigned court-appointed attorneys following their arrests after authorities discovered 16 children living in what investigators described as “deplorable conditions.”
Gary Siders Sr., Christina Siders, Gary Siders Jr. and Elizabeth Siders were taken into custody Tuesday after law enforcement executed a search warrant at the family’s residence. The four defendants each appeared in court and have now been appointed legal representation.
Gary Siders Sr. will be represented by Dorian Baum, while Kandra Roberts has been appointed to represent Christina Siders. Lee Roberts Jr. will serve as counsel for Gary Siders Jr., and Thomas Stolly has been appointed to represent Elizabeth Siders.
According to Baum, Gary Siders Sr. appeared to struggle when responding to the judge’s questions and remained largely expressionless throughout the hearing.
“Just by looking at him, my first impression is I have concerns about his competence. I have concerns about his mental health. I have concerns about his ability to assist in his own defense,” Baum said. “My first conversation with him will be to determine whether a competency evaluation is appropriate or whether any other legal defenses may apply.”
Baum also said the extensive media coverage surrounding the case could present challenges when selecting an impartial jury in Vinton County.
“With this level of media attention, especially in a small county like Vinton County, there are concerns about whether it will be possible to find a fair and impartial jury,” Baum said. He also noted that the defense has not yet had an opportunity to review the evidence gathered by investigators.
Baum emphasized that all four defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
The four members of the Siders family remain in custody at the Vinton County Jail, each being held on a $300,000 bond, as the case moves forward.