NORFOLK, Va. — A Norfolk man was sentenced to Eddie Lee Simon, 31, was found guilty by a jury in March 2025 of rape after a two-day trial. The victim, a fellow bartender who had worked with Simon for just a couple of months, testified that she blacked out at a house party and woke up in Simon’s bed to find him raping her.
The assault took place in the early hours of October 28, 2023, after the victim met Simon and others at a party following her shift at a Norfolk bar. She’d had multiple drinks and no food, and remembered very little after arriving. What she did remember was Simon arguing with his girlfriend, who left the party, followed by Simon venting to others — including her.
Her next memory was waking up at Simon’s home, disoriented. She told him she wanted to nap and set an alarm. Simon told her he’d sleep on the couch. Instead, he climbed into bed and raped her while she was unconscious.
She left his house around 8 a.m. and went to the hospital later that day for a sexual assault nurse examination (SANE). Simon later messaged her, apologized, and sent home surveillance video showing her stumbling as she got out of his car — evidence that became part of the case against him.
When the victim reported the rape to police two days later, Simon claimed their encounter was consensual. But forensic tests confirmed seminal fluid in her vaginal canal, and investigators charged Simon with rape of an incapacitated person.
Simon pleaded not guilty and took his case to trial. After two days of testimony and evidence, the jury deliberated for a single day and returned a guilty verdict on March 27, 2025. Simon’s bond was revoked immediately after the verdict, and he was taken into custody.
At his July 25 sentencing, prosecutors argued that Simon had shown no remorse, and pushed for a sentence near the high end of state guidelines — over 25 years. His defense requested a much shorter sentence, closer to the seven-year minimum, or time served.
Judge David W. Lannetti ultimately handed down a 15-year active sentence, suspending an additional 15 years on strict conditions: lifetime good behavior, completion of sex offender treatment, supervised probation, and no contact with the victim.
“Sex without consent — whether by force, by threat, or by incapacity — is rape,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi after sentencing. “Mr. Simon took advantage of the victim’s incapacity. He will now serve a sentence that reflects the harm he caused and society’s clear stance against sexual violence.”
The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorneys Emily A. Woodley and Phil Y. Bailey, and Detective Richard J. Wampler led the Norfolk Police Department’s investigation.