A man convicted of sexually assaulting a woman during their college years and sending a disturbing Facebook message referencing the assault was handed a two to four-year prison sentence on Monday. Ian Cleary, 32, was brought back to Pennsylvania from France more than a year ago in connection with the incident at Gettysburg College, nearly 12 years after the victim reported the assault.
Despite facing a maximum sentence of 10 years for the attack, Cleary received a lighter punishment below state guidelines due to his guilty plea, expression of remorse, and documented history of mental health issues. Cleary disclosed that he messaged the victim in 2021 as part of a personal atonement effort within a 12-step program, acknowledging the sexual assault that occurred eight years earlier.
During the court session, the victim, Shannon Keeler, conveyed how Cleary’s messages reignited deep-seated trauma from the assault, which had gone unprosecuted for an extended period. Keeler lamented the challenges she faced in seeking justice, highlighting systemic issues in handling campus sexual assault cases.
Keeler’s lawyer, Andrea Levy, expressed mixed feelings about the sentence, emphasizing that while it fell short of expectations, there was relief that the legal process had concluded. Judge Kevin Hess underscored the gravity of the crime, noting its impact on young women in college.
In addition to his prison term, Cleary will be required to register as a sex offender. Following the assault at Gettysburg College, Cleary relocated to California, where he completed his education and worked for Tesla before moving abroad. Keeler’s persistence and public advocacy ultimately led to Cleary’s indictment and extradition from France in 2024.
In court, Cleary offered apologies to Keeler and his family, expressing a commitment to addressing his mental health issues moving forward. Keeler’s poignant statements underscored the lasting effects of the assault and the challenges she faced in seeking accountability over the years.
