Trigger Warning: Rape

Man Convicted by Norfolk Jury of Raping Coworker in 2023 Sentenced to 15 Years

NORFOLK, Va. — Eddie Lee Simon, 31, was sentenced in July to serve 15 years in prison after a jury convicted him of raping a former coworker after a house party in 2023.

The victim and Mr. Simon had been friends and coworkers at a Norfolk bar for about two months prior to the incident. On the night of Oct. 27, 2023, the victim worked her shift at the bar and had plans to meet Mr. Simon and other friends at a house party, and the victim arrived at the party after midnight. Everyone was drinking alcohol, and the victim had had multiple drinks and nothing to eat before arriving. At some point during the party, Mr. Simon and his girlfriend got into an argument, the girlfriend left the party, and Mr. Simon proceeded to complain about their fight to the victim and other attendees. That was the last thing the victim remembered before she blacked out from the amount of alcohol she had consumed.

The next memory the victim had was of finding herself not at the house party but in Mr. Simon’s bedroom, which she recognized from brief visits with friends on two prior occasions. She told Mr. Simon she wanted to nap, and she set an alarm on her phone. Mr. Simon agreed for her to sleep on his bed, and he told her he would sleep on his couch. After the victim went to sleep, Mr. Simon raped the victim. The victim awoke to the rape, pulled away from Mr. Simon, gathered her belongings to leave Mr. Simon’s residence, and went home around 8 a.m.

The victim went to a hospital later that day to undergo a sexual assault nurse examination (SANE). Mr. Simon contacted the victim that day to apologize and sent the victim videos from his home surveillance system showing him driving the victim to his residence and the victim stumbling while getting out of his car. Two days later, the victim reported the rape to police, and Mr. Simon told investigators that they had consensual sex. Based on their investigation, police charged Mr. Simon with the rape of an incapacitated person. Forensic testing of fluids collected during the victim’s SANE later confirmed that seminal fluid was present in the victim’s vaginal canal.

On March 25, 2025, Mr. Simon pleaded not guilty and opted to be tried by a jury. After hearing the evidence in a two-day trial and deliberating on March 27, the jury convicted Mr. Simon of rape as charged. Following his conviction, the Commonwealth moved the Court to revoke Mr. Simon’s bond — which was granted to him in lower court after his arrest — and Mr. Simon was taken into custody.

At Mr. Simon’s sentencing hearing on July 25, the Commonwealth argued that, due to Mr. Simon’s lack of remorse for his crime, Mr. Simon should serve the high-end of his sentencing guidelines, which recommended 25 years and eight months in prison. Mr. Simon’s defense counsel argued for Mr. Simon to either receive a sentence which would amount to time served, or a sentence closer to the low end of his guidelines, which was seven years and 11 months.

After hearing the arguments, Judge David W. Lannetti, who presided over the jury trial, sentenced Mr. Simon to serve 15 years in prison and suspended another 15 years on the conditions that he complete an indeterminate period of supervised probation, be of uniform good behavior for the remainder of his life, complete sex-offender treatment, and have no contact with the victim.

“Sex without consent — whether by force, by threat, or by incapacity – is rape, and Mr. Simon took advantage of the victim’s incapacity to do just that,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi. “I thank the survivor of Mr. Simon’s crime for coming forward and helping us hold Mr. Simon accountable. Mr. Simon will now serve a sentence that reflects the harm that he has caused and our society’s condemnation of sexual violence against others.”

Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorneys Emily A. Woodley and Phil Y. Bailey prosecuted Mr. Simon’s case, and Norfolk Police Detective Richard J. Wampler led the investigation.

If you and/or someone you love are a victim of a crime — including but not limited to sexual abuse — resources are available at the Norfolk Family Justice Center. For more information, please visit norfolkfjc.org, call 757-330-0376, or stop by the NFJC located at 835 Glenrock Road, Suite 100, between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. on weekdays. If you are in crisis, call the 24/7 hotline by dialing 757-251-0144. In an emergency, please call 911.

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March 28, 2025

Trigger Warning: Rape

Jury Convicts Man of Raping Coworker After 2023 House Party

NORFOLK, Va. — A jury convicted Eddie Lee Simon, 30, on Thursday of rape after he sexually assaulted a former coworker after a house party in 2023.

The victim and Mr. Simon had been friends and coworkers at a Norfolk bar for about two months prior to the incident. On the night of Oct. 27, 2023, the victim worked her shift at the bar and had plans to meet Mr. Simon and other friends at a house party. After midnight on Oct. 28, the victim arrived at the house party. Everyone was drinking alcoholic beverages at the party, and the victim had multiple drinks and nothing to eat before arriving. At some point during the party, Mr. Simon and his girlfriend got into an argument, the girlfriend left the party, and Mr. Simon proceeded to complain about their fight to the victim and other attendees. That was the last thing the victim remembered before she blacked out from the amount of alcohol she had consumed.

The next memory the victim had was of finding herself not at the house party but in Mr. Simon’s bedroom, which she recognized from brief visits with friends on two prior occasions. She told Mr. Simon she wanted to nap, and she set an alarm on her phone. Mr. Simon agreed for her to sleep on his bed, and he told her he would sleep on his couch. After the victim went to sleep, Mr. Simon raped the victim without a condom. The victim awoke to the rape, pulled away from Mr. Simon, gathered her belongings to leave Mr. Simon’s residence, and went home around 8 a.m. the morning of Oct. 28.

The victim went to a hospital later that day to undergo a sexual assault nurse examination (SANE). Mr. Simon contacted the victim that day to apologize and sent the victim videos from his home surveillance system showing him driving the victim to his residence and the victim stumbling while getting out of his car. Two days later, the victim reported the rape to police, and Mr. Simon told investigators that they had consensual sex. Based on their investigation, police charged Mr. Simon with the rape of an incapacitated person. Forensic testing of fluids collected during the victim’s SANE later confirmed that seminal fluid was present in the victim’s vaginal canal.

On Tuesday, Mr. Simon pleaded not guilty and opted to be tried by a jury. After hearing the evidence on Tuesday and Wednesday and deliberating on Thursday, the jury convicted Mr. Simon of rape as charged. Judge David W. Lannetti, who presided over Mr. Simon’s trial, set his sentencing hearing on July 25.

“Sex without consent, whether through threats or intimidation or by taking advantage of another person’s helplessness or unconsciousness, is rape, period,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi. “I am grateful to the survivor of Mr. Simon’s assault for coming forward, telling the truth, and helping the police and us hold Mr. Simon accountable. We will seek a fitting sentence for this crime, and we will continue to focus our resources on the individuals who hurt other members of our community.”

Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Emily A. Woodley is prosecuting Mr. Simon’s case, Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Phil Y. Bailey assisted Ms. Woodley at trial, and Norfolk Police Detective Richard J. Wampler led the investigation.

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