A man convicted of sexually assaulting a woman during their college years and later sending a Facebook message admitting to the assault received a two to four-year prison sentence. Ian Cleary, 32, was extradited from France to Pennsylvania more than a year ago in connection with the incident at Gettysburg College, which occurred almost 12 years before the victim reported it to the authorities.
Considering Cleary’s guilty plea, expression of remorse, and documented mental health issues, the judge imposed a sentence below the state’s sentencing guidelines. Cleary claimed that he messaged the victim in 2021 as part of a 12-step program to seek redemption for the sexual assault that had taken place eight years prior.
During the court proceedings, the victim, Shannon Keeler, expressed how the messages reopened old wounds and criticized the legal system for failing to promptly address her case. Despite the emotional impact on Keeler, the sentence fell short of the prosecution’s initial recommendation of four to eight years in prison.
Keeler recounted the assault, which occurred when Cleary forced his way into her dorm room during winter break when campus was nearly empty. The judge, Senior Judge Kevin Hess, described the crime as “horrifying” and acknowledged the lasting impact on the victim.
Cleary, who will be required to register as a sex offender, left Gettysburg after the assault, completed college in California, worked at Tesla, and later relocated abroad. In 2019, following Keeler’s renewed efforts with law enforcement, Cleary was indicted and eventually extradited from France.
In court, Cleary apologized to Keeler and his family, expressing a commitment to mental health treatment. Keeler’s persistence over 12 years to seek justice culminated in Cleary’s guilty plea, although challenges such as lost evidence and the passage of time were noted.
Despite the difficulties in tracking Cleary down, authorities eventually apprehended him in France. Keeler’s public disclosure of her experience and the subsequent legal proceedings underscored the importance of accountability and the enduring impact of sexual assault cases.
