Attorney: Mark Sievers wants children, reduced bond

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Mark Sievers, who is accused of planning the June 2015 murder of his wife, denied several allegations about the care of his two daughters at a DCF arraignment on Monday.

DCF’s allegations are not public record, but Mark Sievers’ attorney said one of those claims will be hard to fight. Sievers has been in jail since late February and DCF’s biggest allegation on Monday was that Mark Sievers is unable to care for the children he had with wife Dr. Teresa Sievers.

Mark Sievers’ attorney said he is seeking a bond reduction for his client in an effort to fight DCF’s attempts at removing the Sievers children from his custody. But the future of the Sievers girls’ custody is still in question as a battle between maternal and paternal grandparents continues.

The two girls were temporarily placed with their maternal grandmother, Mary Ann Groves in early April. That same week, Mark Sievers’ mother, Bonnie Sievers, filed a motion to gain custody. Her motion will be heard May 11.

The judge in the girls’ DCF arraignment approved the appointment of an advocate to speak on the behalf of the Sievers girls on Monday.

A dependency trial connected to Monday’s arraignment is scheduled for June 1 to determine whether the children are in need of services. If the girls’ dependency is established, then DCF will gain the authority to decide who gains custody of the children. The decision only needs the approval of a judge.

Mark Sievers will request to have his bond reduced on Thursday, his attorney said.