Former Student Accused of 2013 Campus Sexual Assault Extradited from France to Face Charges
U.S. Marshals released this wanted poster for Ian Cleary, who is charged for a 2013 sexual assault in a campus dorm building, after learning he had left the United States. After his capture in France, Cleary was extradited to the U.S., where he is being held without bond at Adams County Prison. (U.S. Marshals via AP)
By Vincent DiFonzo, Editor-in-Chief
A former Gettysburg College student has been extradited back to the United States to face charges related to a sexual assault allegedly committed in a campus first-year residential hall in 2013.
Ian Cleary, who was enrolled at Gettysburg College between 2011 and 2014, had been jailed in France since May, where he was discovered by French authorities after eluding authorities for nearly three years.
On Thursday morning, Cleary was taken into American custody at Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport. At a Friday court hearing in Adams County, District Judge Tony J. Little ordered that Cleary be detained at Adams County Prison without bail ahead of a preliminary court date scheduled for Jan. 29.
Cleary’s extradition follows years of effort by the victim, Shannon Keeler ’17, to have authorities press charges. The Gettysburgian previously reported on Keeler’s efforts in 2021.
Cleary is accused of stalking Keeler, who was in her first semester at Gettysburg, at a December 2013 fraternity party, forcing his way into her dorm room and raping her. Keeler reported the assault to authorities the same day it occurred, took a sexual assault forensic, or “rape kit” exam, at the hospital and met with police in the following weeks.
Meanwhile, Cleary transferred to Santa Clara University in California, where he graduated in 2016.
Despite working with College officials and Adams County authorities, including a meeting with then-district attorney Shawn Wagner, no charges were filed against Cleary by the DA. In June 2021, Keeler’s then-lawyer told The Washington Post that the Gettysburg Police Department responded to the situation with “victim-blaming and indifference.” Authorities also indicated that it would be difficult to prosecute the case because the then-18 year old Keeler had alcohol in her system at the time she was assaulted, she told the Associated Press.
In 2020, Keeler received a string of Facebook messages from Cleary in which he admitted to the rape.
“So I raped you,” read one of the messages. “I’ll never do it to anyone ever again,” “I need to hear your voice,“ and “I’ll pray for you,” read other messages Keeler received.
Weeks after speaking to the AP, Adams County authorities issued an arrest warrant for Cleary in June 2021. However, authorities were unable to locate him and believed that he left the U.S before the warrant was issued.
U.S. Marshals released a wanted poster and an Interpol Red Notice was issued for Cleary’s arrest.
In April 2024, Cleary resurfaced as authorities discovered and detained him in Metz, a city in northwestern France. There, a French court ordered he would be extradited. Gettysburg Police Detective Chris Evans told USA Today that Cleary had been living as a “homeless transient” when he was discovered. Cleary was finally extradited back to the U.S. on Thursday.
“In this case, accountability has been delayed for so long,” said Keeler’s lawyer, Andrea Levy, on Friday. “[Keeler] is incredibly grateful.”
Commenting on the longevity of the case, Levy said, “[Keeler] persevered. Many would not have had the wherewithal to pursue this for 11 years.”
Keeler told the AP that Cleary’s arrest has given her “renewed faith” in the justice system.
