Pennsylvania Man Pleads Guilty Sexual Assault, Extradited From France

Ian Thomas Cleary, 32, pleaded guilty to felony sexual assault for raping Shannon Keeler in her dorm room at Gettysburg College in December 2013 and sending her a chilling Facebook message in 2020 that said, "So I raped you." Keeler, who pursued justice for over a decade despite initial inaction from authorities, testified about the assault and the subsequent disturbing messages that reignited the case leading to a felony arrest warrant in 2021. Cleary was arrested in Metz, France, in April 2024 after years of living abroad and was extradited to Pennsylvania in early 2025, where he was denied bail due to flight risk concerns. The case has spotlighted challenges in prosecuting campus sexual assault cases and the perseverance required by survivors like Keeler, who was supported by the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape. Cleary’s defense cited mental health episodes during his time in France, and sentencing is scheduled for October 2025, with a proposed sentence of four to eight years. The case garnered significant attention for the disturbing social media evidence and the lengthy pursuit of accountability.