American Arrested in France on Campus Sexual Assault Charges Waives Hearing in Pennsylvania
GETTYSBURG, Pa.—An American who was extradited from France to face charges related to a 2013 campus sexual assault incident has waived his right to a pretrial hearing in Pennsylvania this week.
Ian Cleary, 32, will continue to be held in custody until his formal arraignment scheduled for March 18 in Gettysburg. He is accused of stalking the victim at Gettysburg College, breaking into her dormitory, and sexually assaulting her.
Cleary, a resident of Saratoga, California, left college following the alleged incident and completed his undergraduate and graduate studies nearby before relocating to Europe. He is being represented by a public defender from Adams County, who declined to provide comments regarding the case on Monday.
Shannon Keeler poses for a portrait in the United States, on April 7, 2021. AP Photo
The accuser, Shannon Keeler, has actively sought charges from the beginning, intensifying her efforts after receiving a Facebook message years later that stated “So I raped you.” Charges were officially filed in 2021, shortly after she shared her account with The Associated Press.
She expressed that his extradition this month has restored her “renewed faith” in the justice system. Cleary contested extradition after being apprehended in April, returning this month after his appeal was denied by French courts.
The Associated Press typically does not identify victims of sexual assault without their permission, which Keeler has provided.
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