In a case that has ignited fiery debate across social media and the legal world, new documents released by the Lebanon County District Attorney’s Office show that Veronika Rodriguez, recently found guilty of filing a false sexual assault report, sent flirtatious and explicit messages to her alleged attacker both before and after the encounter.
The revelations have thrown gasoline on an already smoldering public conversation about consent, military culture, and the treatment of alleged victims.
Rodriguez, an enlisted member of the military stationed in Pennsylvania, claimed that fellow soldier Fahad Pervez sexually assaulted her in a car at Fort Indiantown Gap on January 8, 2023.
She handed over an edited audio recording of the encounter as evidence. But prosecutors say that same audio — secretly recorded and spliced by Rodriguez — was a carefully constructed fabrication meant to portray consensual sex as an assault.
“You gave me hickies”
According to newly released legal documents first reported by CBS21 News, the jury was presented with hundreds of text messages exchanged between Rodriguez and Pervez that painted a far different picture than what she told police.
Reportedly, in one message sent immediately after the alleged assault, Rodriguez wrote to Pervez, “You gave me hickies all over my chest,” alongside an explicit photo. She also joked about leaving an intimate personal belonging in his car, suggesting he should “hold on to it” until their next date, which they had scheduled.
Other texts showed her bragging to a friend about the encounter, stating they were seeing each other again that night. Yet just hours later, Rodriguez told police she was assaulted.
The audio was edited, evidence showed
Adding further weight to the prosecution’s argument, investigators also discovered that Rodriguez had attempted to delete the full, unedited audio file of the alleged attack, which suggested consent and included planning for another date. Digital forensic teams recovered the file, showing she had spliced sections of the conversation to allegedly make it appear like a sexual assault.
Officials also pointed to what they called a disturbing pattern. According to the district attorney, Rodriguez has a history of secretly recording romantic partners and misrepresenting relationships. Texts revealed she had lied about her knowledge of alcohol and even specific bars she had visited.
As for Pervez, he itted to fraternizing with Rodriguez — a military rules violation due to their differing ranks — and has since resigned from the military.
Rodriguez claims that Pervez misrepresented himself as a newcomer and a doctor, persuading her to spend time with him. She alleges that he bought her several drinks and became increasingly aggressive, leading her to start recording their interaction out of fear. She reported the assault three days later, providing the audio recording as evidence.
Social media controversy
The Rodriguez case has ignited a firestorm on social media platforms like TikTok and Reddit, where s have expressed outrage over the charges against Rodriguez. A Change.org petition demanding justice has garnered over 8,000 signatures, and a GoFundMe campaign has raised more than $19,000 to her legal defense.
Critics argue that prosecuting Rodriguez sets a dangerous precedent for how sexual assault survivors are treated, particularly when they attempt to gather evidence of their assaults. ers of Rodriguez emphasize the importance of believing survivors and ensuring they are not penalized for seeking justice.
Published: Jun 4, 2025 04:32 pm