Eric Sim, 38, a former NASA engineer, was just two days away from trial on seven sexual assault charges when prosecutors dismissed all cases on Tuesday, citing insufficient evidence to prove most of the allegations beyond a reasonable doubt.
Background of the Case
Sim, who gained recognition from a viral NASA “Gangnam Style” parody video in 2012, was arrested last March at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Following his arrest, he was released on a $700,000 bond but was forced to resign from his position at NASA, according to his attorney, Neal Davis.
The alleged assaults were reported to have taken place between 2019 and 2022, with prosecutors initially claiming Sim used dating apps such as Hinge, East Meets East, and OkCupid to meet women, pretending to seek serious relationships before allegedly assaulting them.
Investigators found videos of sexual encounters on Sim’s devices, as well as a spreadsheet listing hundreds of women, which raised further concerns last year. At the time, former District Attorney Kim Ogg suggested there could be additional victims due to Sim’s NASA credentials and international travel history.
However, after current DA Sean Teare’s administration re-evaluated the evidence, they found it was not enough to sustain the charges in court.
Statement from the DA’s Office
“The survivors in these cases are our priority. They are the victims of predatory acts, and we stand firm in recognizing their trauma,” the DA’s office said in a statement.
“Forcing them to relive their pain in a public courtroom serves no purpose. Over the past 11 months, our investigators and prosecutors have sifted through terabytes of data, only to uncover insufficient evidence to prove this case beyond a reasonable doubt. We owe it to these survivors to ensure justice, not re-victimization.”
Records indicate that one of the dismissals was made at the request of a victim.
Defense Attorney Calls Case “Politically Motivated”
Sim’s defense attorney, Neal Davis, claimed the case was politically driven.
“Politics are politics. It was an election year, and the HPD rape unit was under scrutiny for mishandling cases. Eric Sim became a political target, labeled as a serial predator when in reality, he didn’t do any of this,” Davis said.
“My question is, where does he go to get his reputation back? How does he rebuild his life?”
Davis emphasized that digital forensic evidence, including text messages, played a key role in the dismissals.
“This entire ordeal devastated Eric Sim. He lost his job, lived under house arrest for a year, and his life was put on hold,” Davis added.
Now, Sim is focused on rebuilding his reputation, though his attorney acknowledged the lasting impact the allegations will have on his life.
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