The Vinton County father facing multiple felony charges involving his own 16 children pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges he sexually abused a child to whom he is related.
Gary Siders Jr. entered the plea at his arraignment in Vinton County Court of Common Pleas.
He was indicted last week on two counts each of sexual battery and unlawful sexual contact with a minor.
Siders is the child’s uncle, according to the indictment, which also notes the child was at least 13 years old but less than 16.
Siders was arrested in late June after officers found his children living in deplorable conditions in their home in Hamden. He faces multiple counts of felony and misdemeanor child endangerment in that case.
The discovery of the children was an unexpected result of the investigation into the sexual abuse case. Officers found them while serving a search warrant at the home to get a sample of Siders’ DNA, according to law enforcement.
Siders’ wife, Elizabeth Siders, and his parents, Gary Siders Sr. and Christina Siders, each face multiple counts of child endangerment in connection with the 16 children found in the home.
Elizabeth, meanwhile, also faces charges of sexual battery and unlawful sexual contact with a minor in connection with the alleged abuse of the other child. She has not yet been arraigned on those charges.
The four defendants, at their request, are all being evaluated to determine whether they are competent to stand trial. The evaluations are done by psychiatrists, who will issue a report to the judge, who will make a final determination after a hearing.
Gary Sr.’s evaluation hearing is set for Sept. 9.
