Simonoski Family Pushing for Maximum Sentence for Dad

The children of a man accused of trying to kill his ex-wife by Aug. 21 want to convince a judge to give their father the maximum prison sentence.

Trial for Aco Simonoski, 51, who is in jail on $500,000 bond and facing an attempted murder charge, is scheduled to start Dec. 5.

His daughter, Bilyana, said prosecutors are hoping for a 15-year prison sentence if her father is convicted, but that isn't enough.

"I've been told that community involvement will help get the maximum sentence," Bilyana said in an email.

Maximum sentence would be 18 years. 

and prosecutors say Aco was living this summer with his ex-wife, Milka, and their three adult children in Milka's house on Hollo Oval. On Aug. 21, she told him to move out.

When Milka and Bilyana, 22, returned that afternoon, Aco was there, apparently intoxicated, and the couple argued again. Aco from the garage and hit Milka in the head.

Bilyana struggled with him, but he chopped her wrist with the ax, then went after Milka again.

Neighbor Tom Drost in the garage as she tried to wrestle her father out of the house and ran to help.

Milka was not expected to live, but is now in a local nursing home. Bilyana underwent surgery on her wrist and is also recovering.

Friends have for the three young adult Simonoski kids.

Bilyana has written a letter seeking help from friends and supporters. Here is part of it:

Bilyana's Letter

It didn’t matter if I was coming home after a month or after an hour. Every time I walked in the door I knew I would be greeted with a “Hi my baby girl!” and a huge hug and kiss. Cuddling up and watching movies in the winter. Walks around Lake Isaac. Calling each other on all of our breaks. She told us she loved us every single day. The most amazing mother and my best friend in the world. We don’t have much family near us, but we never noticed it until now, because our mother was all we needed. These are just a few of the things I miss.

Let it be known that my mom is not a broken, weak woman. She tried going to the police twice to get the monster out of the house that was in her name and we never imagined that he was capable of such evil. Unfortunately, our legislation is such that the law can only step in after it is too late.

This brings me to the reason that I am writing this. The prosecution is hoping for a 15-year sentence at best. My mother was almost murdered with an axe and not expected to live and a mere 15 years is the sentence? We respect and value our mother’s life much more than that. It is a miracle of God and her own incredible strength that she survived. They try to tell us not to worry, because that after he serves, he will be sent to Macedonia. The problem with that is, there is nowhere else in the world that he would rather be and he will be sent there to enjoy his retirement as a free man, courtesy of our government. So, he gets his ultimate happiness, while we are left to pick up the pieces and deal with this nightmare forever.

You can help. Every letter written to the judge will be added to the case file and considered at sentencing. So, I am asking you to please write a letter to him explaining how you know our family (or if you don’t personally know us, why our story got your attention) and ask him the give at least the maximum of 18 years and more if he’s able to. We would be tremendously grateful.  Here’s the address and just include the case number in the letter.

Case Number: CR-11-553775

Judge Ronald Suster
1200 Ontario St.
Cleveland, OH 44113

I’m not doing this to be sadistic or to get revenge. Honestly, we are trying to stay positive and revenge is not worth the effort. I just want justice served and a small amount of peace that this criminal will never be around women or children again. I want the person who laughed in my face as I begged him to stop to be held accountable for his actions.

This is my plea. Please write and please share with anyone who’d be willing to write. Thank you all for your support. We continue to be amazed by your kindness.