Warsaw, NY (WBEN) The man accused of attacking Wyoming County Sheriff Gregory Rudolph is found unfit to stand trial.
Lynn Hall appeared in Wyoming County Court, where the results of two psychiatric exams were formally announced by the court. Both doctors, who had examined Hall under court order, concluded that the defendant is incapacitated and thus unable to assist in his defense or able to understand the nature of the proceedings. Judge Michael M. Mohun declared Hall incompetent to stand trial. All of the criminal proceedings are now stayed until a doctor determines he is competent at some later date.
Mohun then ordered Hall held by the Office of Mental Health at a facility of its choosing and Hall is to be held there until he is determined by the doctor to be fit to stand trial. Since Hall is facing a sentence which imposes a life sentence, he will remain in the custody of the Office of Mental Health for the rest of his life unless his mental status changes. Mohun set a return date of July 25, 2019 as a date to check on the defendant’s status. Hall will remain in jail until a mental health bed is available.
Hall is accused of attacking Rudolph as he was on his way to work in uniform, operating an unmarked Ford Taurus Police Vehicle. While traveling on State Route 238 in the town of Attica, prosecutors say Hall began to tailgate Rudolph flashing its lights. Rudolph pulled over to see if the vehicle needed assistance. The vehicle then pulled in front of the Sheriff’s vehicle blocking him in. Prosecutors say Hall exited his vehicle and met Rudolph at the door of his police vehicle and engaged him in a physical altercation. Rudolph recognized the man as someone who had applied for a pistol permit and had come to the Sheriff’s Office the day prior to inquire on it. Investigators say Hall tried to get Rudolph's weapon and a struggle continued to the ground on the side of the roadway. Prosecutors say Hall ended up on top of Rudolph with a knife threatening to take his life. During the ground altercation, two civilian newspaper delivers stopped and assisted the Sheriff along with an off-duty New York State Trooper. Hall was handcuffed and taken into custody.