Former Student Charged in 2013 Campus Sexual Assault to be Extradited to U.S., French Court Rules
U.S. Marshals released this wanted poster for Cleary in 2021. (U.S. Marshals via AP)
By Vincent DiFonzo, Editor-in-Chief
A former Gettysburg College student currently detained in France on charges related to a rape allegedly committed in a campus dorm room in 2013 will be extradited to the United States, a French court ruled Monday.
Ian Cleary, who attended Gettysburg College between 2011 and 2014, was detained in Metz, France in April after evading authorities for three years. He will be extradited to face prosecution in the U.S. following the court’s ruling.
The warrant accuses Cleary of stalking and raping first-year student Shannon Keeler after a December 2013 fraternity party.
The assault was reported the morning after and Cleary dropped out of Gettysburg shortly after the incident, prompting the Title IX office to close its case. Despite Keeler’s efforts encouraging law enforcement to prosecute Cleary, authorities stopped pursuing the case. Keeler graduated in 2017.
In 2021, Keeler received messages on Facebook from Cleary.
“So I raped you,” read one of the messages.
Keeler reported these messages to authorities, who then reopened the case and issued an arrest warrant for Cleary. The Gettysburgian reported on Keeler’s efforts in 2021.
Authorities reported they believed Cleary had left the U.S. before the warrant was issued. He evaded authorities for years, despite Interpol issuing a red notice for him, until he was discovered by French police in April.
Cleary has been in detainment awaiting legal proceedings regarding extradition in Metz, France since his April arrest. Following the court’s ruling, Cleary will be extradited to the U.S.
The French Justice Ministry is responsible for Cleary’s extradition, which first requires the signature of the French prime minister. Cleary will remain in French custody until this.
