NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — A Norfolk jury convicted a man of rape Thursday after he sexually assaulted a former coworker after a 2023 house party, the Norfolk Commonwealth's Attorney's office said. Eddie Lee Simon, 30, had initially pleaded not guilty and opted to be tried by a jury, but after a ju ry heard evidence Tuesday and Wednesday of last week, the jury Thursday convicted Simon of rape. Judge David W. Lannetti set a July 25 sentencing hearing. “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 in a statement. “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.” According to the Commonwealth's Attorney's office, the victim and Simon had been friends and coworkers at a Norfolk bar for about two months before the incident, and, on the night of Oct. 27, 2023, the victim worked her shift at the bar and had plans to meet Simon and other friends at a house party. After midnight on Oct. 28, the victim showed up to the house party, with everyone drinking alcoholic beverages, including the victim, who had not eaten before arriving, according to the Commonwealth's Attorney's office, who noted that at some point during the party, Simon and his girlfriend had gotten into an argument, with the girlfriend leaving. At that point, according to evidence, Simon then complained about the fight to the victim and other people at the party, and that was the last thing the victim remembered before blacking out. The victim's next memory, according to evidence, was of finding herself not at the house party but at Simon's bedroom, which she had recognized from two prior, and brief, visits with friends. She told Simon she wanted to take a nap and set an alarm on her phone, with him agreeing to sleep on his couch. After the victim went to sleep, Simon raped her without a condom, according to evidence, and the victim woke up to the rape, pulled away from him and then gathered her belongings to leave Simon's residence and went home around 8 a.m. Oct. 28, according to evidence. The victim went to a hospital later that day to undergo a sexual assault nurse exam. Based on their investigation, police charged Simon with rape of an incapacitated person. ...read more read less