Ian Cleary, a 31-year-old from Saratoga, California, has been accused of sexually assaulting a Pennsylvania college student in 2013. He was arrested after a three-year search and was brought back to the U.S. from France. He was ordered to stay in jail without bail during a court hearing in Pennsylvania. Cleary appeared by video and did not have a lawyer present.
The case began when Cleary allegedly stalked Shannon Keeler, an 18-year-old student at Gettysburg College, at a campus party. He is accused of sneaking into her dorm room and assaulting her while she texted friends for help. Keeler reported the crime right away, but it took years for authorities to take action.
In 2021, after Keeler discovered disturbing messages on Facebook, Cleary was wanted by the police. One message from Cleary read, “So I raped you.” Police confirmed the account was his, leading to the arrest.
Shannon Keeler, who has fought for justice for over a decade, said that Cleary’s arrest gave her “renewed faith” in the justice system. Her lawyer, Andrea Levy, said it was a relief to see Cleary in custody and praised Keeler’s determination to keep pursuing the case.
Keeler had faced many challenges in seeking justice, but she never gave up. Her lawyer noted that it took a lot of courage for Keeler to push for accountability over the years. The next hearing for Cleary is scheduled for January 29.
