SLIPPERY ROCK — A rape suspect's message posted on the social media site Snapchat to the alleged victim was a key piece of evidence at a preliminary hearing Wednesday.

As it turned out, a trooper was speaking to the victim, a Slippery Rock University student, about the suspected assault Jan. 16 when Samrajya B. Khadka, 20, allegedly sent the incriminating message, according to testimony at the hearing.

Khadka, a Nepal native whose last known address was in Oakland Township, told the victim — via the Snapchat — that he was “sorry” and what happened was “wrong,” Trooper Robert Rottman testified.

District Judge Bill O'Donnell ordered Khadka held for trial on felony charges of rape of an unconscious person, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse of an unconscious person, sexual assault and aggravated indecent assault of an unconscious person.

Additionally, the defendant was held for court on a misdemeanor count of indecent assault of an unconscious person. He remains in the Butler County Prison in lieu of $200,000 bond.

Allegedly occurred in off-campus apartment

Police began their investigation after the victim, a 20-year-old woman, reported that she was sexually assaulted in the early morning of Jan. 16 at her off-campus apartment complex in Slippery Rock Township. The apartment is not affiliated with SRU.

Because hearsay testimony is allowed at preliminary hearings under state law, prosecutor David Beichner, a county assistant district attorney, did not call the victim to testify.

Rottman said that he and another trooper interviewed the woman at Butler Memorial Hospital, where she had gone for a rape kit examination soon after the alleged assault. Analysis of the exam as well as lab results of other blood evidence is pending.

She recounted that Khadka and another man she knew had arrived at her apartment early that morning.

“They had a couple drinks. They were having a good time watching Disney+, watching “Aladdin,” whatever it was,” Rottman testified about what the victim told police. “She then said, at some point she must have passed out, fell asleep, something.”

About 4:45 a.m., she awakened.

“She woke up with her pants down around her ankles, shirt off and the defendant on top of her (sexually assaulting her),” Rottman said. She immediately pushed Khadka off her and ran to the bathroom.

Claims no consent

“She said she never gave any kind of consent,” the trooper testified.

While in the bathroom, she called an ex-boyfriend on the phone and asked him to come to her apartment. Khadka was there when the former boyfriend arrived.

Khadka's attorney, T. Brent McCune of Pittsburgh, on cross-examination, asked Rottman if the ex-boyfriend exchanged words with the defendant.

“I believe the only words were, 'It's time to go,' something along those lines,” the trooper said. Khadka then left.

McCune also made the point that his client did not flee the apartment.

The former boyfriend took the woman back to his home for a brief time where he photographed her injuries, described as scratches on her torso, upper thigh and neck, allegedly suffered in the assault.

The two then went to the SRU police station to report what happened. State police, in turn, were notified and took over the investigation.

Snapchat message while at police station

While at the station, the initial responding officer, a female patrol trooper, spoke to the victim. She was there when the woman received a Snapchat from Khadka on her cell phone, Rottman said.

A screenshot picture was taken of the post, which was received between 6:30 and 6:45 a.m. Jan. 16.

The defendant's message read: “I said I'm sorry I feel like complete piece of (expletive). I'm ashamed whatever happened was wrong in (sic) so many levels.”

The victim identified the Snapchat as coming from the defendant's account, Rottman said. Khadka's name was also at the top of the message.

“Did your department see any other Snapchats besides this one?” McCune asked Rottman.

“That morning? No sir,” the trooper replied.

Following testimony, McCune tried to minimize the Snapchat, while making closing arguments.

“What we have here on the Snapchat could refer to all sorts of embarrassing conduct. It doesn't mention sex,” he said. “We don't know what the context of this is, whether it's someone throwing up or doing something outrageous in other ways.”