An attorney representing one of the Ohio"house of horrors" defendants says it's poverty, not criminality, that led to the disturbing discovery at his property last month and the rescue of 16 children from squalor.

One month ago, police arrested Gary Siders, 73, along with his wife, Christina Siders, 67; son, Gary Siders II, 36; and daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Siders, 33, after 16 children were found living at their home in Hamden, Ohio, in deplorable conditions.

The elder Siders is facing 16 counts of child endangerment. His attorney, Dorian Baum, told WCMH that Siders' is being prosecuted because he's poor, not because he is negligent.

“Everyone should take a deep breath and step back because unfortunately, when all this comes out, [what] we’re going to see is a state entity which is criminalizing poverty and little more,” Baum said.

Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson said the children looked "almost feral" when they were rescued by authorities. Police described parts of the house that were inaccessible due to the trash accumulation inside.

“They looked like almost feral animals,” Wilson said of the children. “It was terrible.”

He said during a press conference that the children were largely contained to a single 12 x 12 room

Baum has accused Wilson of sensationalizing the case despite the fact that the Siders have not even been indicted yet.

“This is not a matter that the AG should have stuck his nose in because everything from these videos to other evidence that I’ve been privy to, minimally pre-indictment, is that the AG didn’t know what the hell he was talking about, period. End of story,” he told the outlet.

The lawyer also blasted local police for not securing the crime scene since the discovery. Wilson told the outlet that the county didn’t have the manpower to staff an officer at the home.

“Those officers are out handling regular calls. They can’t be sitting on that house the whole time,” Wilson told the outlet. “If somebody goes in there, there’s a really good chance that they’re going to get hurt.”

The children — whose parents are Elizabeth Siders and Gary Siders II — have been taken into protective custody. Seven of the children needed hospitalization, with one who was in critical condition.

Vinton County Local School District confirmed to local media that it has no records showing that any of the 16 children — the oldest is 18 — ever attended school at the district.

Ohio officials have approved $1 million for the care of the children while their permanent custody is being determined.

Police did not reveal how they first became aware of the Siders' home.

All four suspects have pleaded not guilty. An attorney for Gary II on Friday filed a motion notifying the court that his client is pursuing a mental health competency screening to ensure he is fit to stand trial.