HOUSTON – A NASA employee has been charged with six different sexual assaults and authorities believe there may be more victims out there.
Eric Sim, 37, is out of jail on a $700,000 bond. His bond conditions are very strict, according to officials. He is on 24-hour house arrest and his electronic devices are being monitored.
“His predatory behavior with the victims in these cases, along with his NASA credentials frequently mentioned to gain credibility with his victims, and his international travel. All are clues that could indicate further victims who are out there,” said Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg.
Officials say the six cases for which Sim is charged for occurred during a time frame from 2019 to 2022. The alleged assaults happened at Sim’s townhouse east of downtown Houston, one of them possibly while intoxicated.
Authorities say Sim used dating apps to communicate with multiple people at the same time. He portrayed himself as someone who wanted a committed relationship before he ultimately sexually assaulted the victims.
The apps Sim used includes Hinge, East Meets East, and OkCupid, according to court documents. The women allege after a couple dates, Sim pinned them down and violently or forcibly assaulted them without their consent.
Because Sim frequently traveled, authorities believe there may be more victims out there, locally, nationally, and internationally. Investigators say Sim’s travels stretched to Japan, Canada, the U.K. and beyond.
“The nature of these offenses is so personal and so predatory that we felt it was important that we tell the public and ask the public to take a look, a long hard look at Mr. Sim and let us know if you not just have been in contact, you may have been victimized by him,” Ogg said.
NASA released a statement in response to questions from KPRC 2 about Sim:
NASA’s security team cooperated with local law enforcement agencies on Thursday, Feb. 29, when they arrested an employee at Johnson Space Center in Houston. However, it is not appropriate for NASA to comment on ongoing investigations. NASA will take any and all appropriate personnel action based on our own investigation as well as facts shared with us from local investigative and prosecutorial organizations. For any additional information, please contact local authorities.
Sim is also known for being a star in a viral 2012 NASA ‘Gangnam Style’ parody video. KPRC 2 reached out to Sim’s defense attorney, Neal Davis, and he provided this response:
“Eric Sim has pleaded not guilty. He had consensual relations with women he met on online dating sites and unfortunately a few of them have made false allegations. The relationships didn’t turn out the way the complainants hoped they would, and we look forward to presenting the whole truth to a jury.”