Holley man accused of attempted murder attack on police officer remains in psychiatric care after a year

David Simoni continues to be deemed unfit for trial

ALBION – A Holley man who faces an attempted murder charge after an attack on a Holley police officer remains in psychiatric care and continues to be deemed unfit to stand trial.

David Simoni, 33, was charged on June 15, 2021 after he allegedly lunged at a Holley police officer, attempting to stab him, when the officer was dispatched to the Holley waterfalls on Frisbee Terrace that evening.

Simoni was allegedly walking around with a knife antagonizing people, Robert Barton, Holley police chief, said a day after the incident.

Simoni has spent a year in a Rochester psychiatric care facility. The staff there says he remains unfit for trial, Public Defender Joanne Best said in Orleans County Court today.

Judge Sanford Church said he intends to sign a notice on Sept. 7, stating Simoni will continue in psychiatric care and won’t have to stand trial for at least another year unless his condition improves.

Simoni’s status will be reviewed annually and he could spend as much as 2/3 of the maximum prison sentence he faces in psychiatric care without going to trial. That would be more than 16 years because he could face up to 25 years in prison for the attempted murder charge.

Simoni also has been arraigned on menacing a police officer, reckless endangerment in the first degree, attempted assault with intent to cause physical injury with a weapon, menacing in the second degree, criminal obstruction of breathing, criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree, criminal mischief with intent to damage property, acting in an injurious manner to a child younger than 17, and resisting arrest.