Suspect Offers to Give DNA Sample

Lawrence Neil Simonoff, 47, stood silently in court on Friday as he appeared before a judge in connection with a home invasion and attempted sexual assault on Talcottville Road in Vernon.

Police arrested Simonoff around 6 p.m. on Thursday evening.

Investigators say Simonoff entered a woman's condo at Courtside Condominiums on Jan. 21,  assaulted her and  left behind a dark blue woman's blouse with tassels and shoulder pads, a silver link necklace and shoes with a logo for the company And-1.

Someone who saw the items on the news contacted authorities about Simonoff, officials said.

Simonoff’s attorney, Jon Berman, said his client denies any involvement in this case or four other unsolved rapes police are investigating and he's volunteering to submit a DNA sample.

According to the address on the arrest log released to the media, Simonoff is also a resident of the condo complex.

Simonoff has been charged with fourth-degree sexual assault, attempted first-degree sexual assault, home invasion, attempted assault, unlawful restraint and interfering with an emergency call.

Simonoff suffered a mental breakdown when he realized he was under suspicion, and spent a week in the hospital in Manchester before he was arrested, the attorney said. 

He was convicted in 1990, for burglary and is being held on a $1 million bond.

Simonoff owns a cleaning contracting company but won't be making bail, his attorney said. He is due back in court on March 16.

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