An Ashley man who shot his former wife’s boyfriend will face trial on June 20 in Delaware County Common Pleas Court.
Christopher Robin Sidders, 41, of Ashley, was arraigned Thursday and entered a not-guilty plea to a charge of attempted murder, a first-degree felony; two charges of felonious assault, second-degree felonies; and two counts of having weapons while under disability, third-degree felonies.
Doctors are optimistic that the shooting victim, Jeffrey Shilt, will make a full recovery Thursday, assistant county prosecutor Mark Sleeper said in court Thursday.
Sleeper told the court Thursday that the shooting occurred after Sidders, Shilt and Sidders’ ex-wife, Teresa Rogers, argued on the night of March 22. Sleeper said that Sidders was living at a home at 9 N. Franklin St., Ashley, with Rogers and Shilt. The argument started when Sidders said he hoped that he and Rogers would reconcile. After the argument, Sleeper said Sidders went upstairs to retrieve a handgun and then shot Shilt in the jaw.
Shilt was transported to a Columbus hospital and Sidders was arrested by Delaware County sheriff’s deputies. Sleeper said Sidders confessed to the shooting after his arrest but later asked to speak to detectives and recanted his confession.
Judge Everett Krueger continued Sidders’ $250,000 bond, which was originally set in Delaware Municipal Court, and scheduled the trial date.
Sleeper estimated the jury trial will take four days.
Sleeper said prosecutors currently have 27 people on their witness list and are planning to add more before the trial.
Sleeper said Sidders has an extensive criminal record in Delaware County that includes felony drug-trafficking charges from 1996, and a felony burglary conviction from 2007. Sleeper added that Sidders also has made 25 Delaware Municipal Court appearances, not including traffic offenses.
Common Pleas Judge David Gormley was originally scheduled to preside over the case but the case was transferred to Krueger because Krueger has presided over Sidders’ prior court cases, including his burglary conviction.
Sidders was still in the county jail Thursday.
The attempted murder and felonious assault charges carry firearm specifications that could add additional prison time to any sentence Sidders receives if he is convicted.
