**Campus Sex Assault Suspect Denied Bail After Extradition: Sent ‘So I Raped You’ Message to Victim**
Ian Cleary, a 31-year-old American from Saratoga, California, made a shocking appearance in a Pennsylvania court hearing after being accused of sexually assaulting a college student in 2013 and sending a chilling Facebook message that read, “So I raped you.” Cleary, who was detained in France in April after a lengthy search, faced the judge via video without a lawyer and was ordered held without bail by District Judge Tony J. Little in East Berlin. The Adams County District Attorney’s Office argued that Cleary’s lack of ties to the area and his time spent in France without a permanent address or employment made him a flight risk.
**Shannon Keeler’s Decade-Long Pursuit for Justice**
The case was propelled forward by former Gettysburg College student Shannon Keeler, who tirelessly pursued justice for over a decade. Keeler, the victim of the assault, expressed renewed faith in the justice system following Cleary’s extradition. The arrest warrant issued in 2021 accused Cleary of stalking Keeler at a campus party, breaking into her dorm room, and sexually assaulting her while she desperately sought help from friends. Despite being a 20-year-old student at Gettysburg at the time, Cleary did not return to campus after the incident.
**Chilling Facebook Messages and Pursuit of Justice**
Keeler, who underwent a rape exam on the same day as the assault, spent years gathering evidence and witnesses to support her case. In 2021, she discovered disturbing Facebook messages allegedly sent by Cleary, including the harrowing statement, “So I raped you.” The subsequent messages expressed remorse and a desire for forgiveness, further solidifying Cleary’s involvement in the assault. Keeler’s lawyer, Andrea Levy, emphasized the importance of accountability in this case, highlighting the delayed pursuit of justice that Keeler endured for over a decade.
**Gratitude for Law Enforcement and Perseverance**
Levy commended the efforts of law enforcement officials in bringing Cleary back to Pennsylvania after such a prolonged period. She praised Keeler’s unwavering perseverance in seeking justice for herself and holding her assailant accountable. The case serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by sexual assault victims, as well as the importance of continued support and advocacy in pursuing justice against perpetrators of such heinous crimes.
