A California resident, Ian Cleary, is being extradited back to the U.S. after allegedly sexually assaulting a Pennsylvania college student in 2013 and sending disturbing messages years later. Cleary, 31, of Saratoga, California, was detained in France in April and has been held in custody pending extradition proceedings.
The arrest warrant accuses Cleary of stalking an 18-year-old Gettysburg College student at a party in 2013, sneaking into her dorm, and sexually assaulting her. The victim, Shannon Keeler, underwent a rape exam on the same day and spent years urging officials to file charges.
In 2021, Keeler discovered Facebook messages allegedly from Cleary's account, including one that read, 'So I raped you.' Police verified that the account belonged to Cleary, who sent the messages in 2020 while Keeler was on a weekend trip with her boyfriend.
Andrea Levy, Keeler's attorney, highlighted the emotional toll on her client, stating that Keeler had to persist in seeking justice while Cleary continued with his life. Cleary left Gettysburg College, graduated from Santa Clara University, worked for Tesla, and then moved to France.
Cleary's extradition back to the U.S. marks a significant development in the case, bringing him to face the allegations of sexual assault and the disturbing messages sent to the victim. The legal proceedings will continue as authorities seek justice for the victim and hold Cleary accountable for his actions.
