Sunday School Teacher to Stand Trial in 2 Rapes
- Share via
A Sunday school teacher was ordered Tuesday to stand trial on charges that he raped two women whom he met at church functions. After the attacks, he allegedly asked for forgiveness.
“Are you going to pray for me or expose me?,” Simon Pryce, 28, allegedly asked a 27-year-old Van Nuys woman after raping her in August, according to her testimony in Van Nuys Municipal Court.
She called the police.
During that investigation, another woman told police Pryce had raped her last summer, authorities said.
The women testified they met Pryce through the Church of the Harvest, 2600 S. La Brea, and that he talked his way into their apartments. Church officials could not be reached for comment.
Pryce said the sex was consensual, according to his lawyer, Alex Kessel.
At the end of preliminary hearing, Municipal Judge Leslie Dunn ruled there was enough evidence to try Pryce. He is being held in jail in lieu of $1.8 million bond.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
More From the Los Angeles Times
Podcasts
John Orr was a renowned fire investigator who was also a prolific arsonist, and whose thinly veiled novel helped to convict him. In this episode we hear from the fire captain who first suspected him—and from Orr himself.
Madison McGhee is joined by legendary Dateline host Josh Mankiewicz and esteemed L.A. Times Reporter Richard Winton as the three of them dive into all-things Menendez Brothers, the good, the bad, and the still unknown.
NPR climate editor Sadie Babits talks about why the media has long overlooked the climate crisis, and how that’s starting to change.
