Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 35-year-old Robert L. Dumas of Buffalo was virtually arraigned today before State Supreme Court Justice M. William Boller on an indictment charging him with one count of Murder in the Second Degree, a Class “A-I” felony, and one count of Manslaughter in the First Degree, a Class “B” felony.

It is alleged that between August 1, 2020 and September 15, 2020, the defendant caused the death of his girlfriend’s 17-month-old daughter by fatally beating the infant at a home on Hirschbeck Avenue in the City of Buffalo. The child, Simone Calhoun, was unresponsive when she was taken to Oishei Children’s Hospital where she died from her injuries on Saturday, September 19, 2020. The cause of death was determined to be blunt force trauma.

Dumas continues to be held without bail. A return court date has not been scheduled at this time.

If convicted on all charges, Dumas faces a maximum of 25 years to life in prison.

DA Flynn commends the Buffalo Police Department for their work in the investigation.   

The case is being prosecuted by Chief Gary W. Hackbush of the DA’s Homicide Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Bethany A. Solek of the DA’s Special Victims Bureau.

As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.