Sidney Starr’s Bond Denied As Alleged Victim’s Mother Speaks In Court

A Fulton County judge will keep Sidney Starr jailed without bond after prosecutors detailed what they say happened between the reality star and a 13-year-old boy inside an Atlanta-area hotel. The hearing also brought an emotional statement from the child’s mother, who said her son has needed extensive therapy since the alleged encounter.

“My son is only 13,” she said in a statement read to the court, according to WSB-TV. She described a child whose sense of safety has been disrupted and said he is now dealing with trauma “that no child should ever have to endure.” The boy’s identity has not been released because he is a minor.

Prosecutors said the case stems from an August 2 encounter at an Embassy Suites in Hapeville, Georgia. According to the account presented in court, the boy told investigators he was in the hotel lobby when Starr approached him and told him he was cute. Prosecutors said Starr later acknowledged that the teenager entered an elevator with her and went to her hotel room. “The allegation is that they engaged in sexual contact,” a prosecutor told the judge. Starr, whose legal name is Sidney Favors, has been charged with sexual battery against a child under 16, aggravated child molestation and sodomy.

Her attorney argued for her release, citing her limited criminal history, which the defense said consists of a single traffic citation. Prosecutors opposed bond and raised concerns about possible interference with witnesses, noting Starr’s large social media following and television profile. CBS Atlanta reported that the judge also considered those concerns while evaluating whether she could pose a danger if released.

The judge ultimately focused on Starr’s limited ties to the Atlanta area and found her to be a flight risk. Starr is from Chicago and had been in Georgia for work when she was arrested. “At this time, this defendant remains in a no-bond status,” the judge said. She will remain in the Fulton County Jail as the felony case moves forward. Starr has denied the allegations.