Ian Cleary, a man accused of sexually assaulting a Gettysburg University student in 2013, was sentenced on Monday, Oct. 20. Cleary was sentenced to two to four years in state prison after pleading guilty in July. Shannon Keeler recounted the night of the assault and how it changed her life in a victim impact statement, emphasizing her years-long fight for justice. Keeler said Cleary “stole her safety, her peace, but not her voice.” Her family was present in court as the sentence was handed down.”It’s not surprising to have Shannon, but this was a real level of strength that she had to endure. And she did it. And I don’t think any of us are surprised at all, but that’s Shannon, that’s her,” said Louis Keeler, Shannon’s dad.The Adams County District Attorney commended Keeler’s courage, stating, “This sentencing finally brings accountability and serves as a reminder that law enforcement will continue to investigate, pursue and seek justice no matter the passage of time.”During sentencing, Cleary apologized for his actions and expressed remorse to his father. He also stated his commitment to seeking treatment for his mental health issues. The judge noted the unusual circumstances of the case and confirmed that Cleary will receive credit for time served since April 2024.Shannon Keeler, the former Gettysburg University student who pursued the case for more than a decade, faced Cleary in court earlier this year for the first time since the encounter.Cleary was detained in France and extradited back to the U.S. earlier this year. A lawyer for Cleary told the Associated Press he experienced several mental health episodes while in custody. International manhuntCleary was the target of a worldwide search after authorities in Pennsylvania issued a 2021 felony warrant in the case. That warrant was issued weeks after an Associated Press story detailed the reluctance of local prosecutors to pursue campus sex crimes.The arrest warrant accused Cleary of stalking an 18-year-old Gettysburg College student at a party, sneaking into her dorm and sexually assaulting her while she texted friends for help. He was a 20-year-old Gettysburg student at the time, but did not return to campus.According to a French judicial official, Cleary was detained on the street in Metz on April 24, 2024 as part of a police check. He told a magistrate that he had “arrived in France two or three years ago” from Albania and had only recently come to Metz, but did not have housing there, the official said.Cleary, according to his online posts, had previously spent time in France and also has ties to California and Maryland. His father is a tech executive in Silicon Valley, while his mother has lived in Baltimore.The Gettysburg accuser had a rape exam done the same day she was assaulted in 2013. She gathered witnesses and evidence and spent years urging officials to file charges. She went to authorities again in 2021 after discovering the Facebook messages that seemed to come from Cleary’s account.”So I raped you,” the sender had written in a string of messages.”I’ll never do it to anyone ever again.””I need to hear your voice.””I’ll pray for you.”According to the June 2021 warrant, police verified that the Facebook account used to send the messages belonged to Ian Cleary. Adams County District Attorney Brian Sinnett filed the warrant.After leaving Gettysburg, Cleary earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from Santa Clara University, near his family home in California, worked for Tesla, then moved to France for several years, according to his website, which describes his self-published medieval fiction.NOTE: The AP contributed to this report.

GETTYSBURG, Pa. —

Ian Cleary, a man accused of sexually assaulting a Gettysburg University student in 2013, was sentenced on Monday, Oct. 20.

Cleary was sentenced to two to four years in state prison after pleading guilty in July.

Shannon Keeler recounted the night of the assault and how it changed her life in a victim impact statement, emphasizing her years-long fight for justice. Keeler said Cleary “stole her safety, her peace, but not her voice.” Her family was present in court as the sentence was handed down.

“It’s not surprising to have Shannon, but this was a real level of strength that she had to endure. And she did it. And I don’t think any of us are surprised at all, but that’s Shannon, that’s her,” said Louis Keeler, Shannon’s dad.

The Adams County District Attorney commended Keeler’s courage, stating, “This sentencing finally brings accountability and serves as a reminder that law enforcement will continue to investigate, pursue and seek justice no matter the passage of time.”

During sentencing, Cleary apologized for his actions and expressed remorse to his father. He also stated his commitment to seeking treatment for his mental health issues. The judge noted the unusual circumstances of the case and confirmed that Cleary will receive credit for time served since April 2024.

Shannon Keeler, the former Gettysburg University student who pursued the case for more than a decade, faced Cleary in court earlier this year for the first time since the encounter.

Cleary was detained in France and extradited back to the U.S. earlier this year. A lawyer for Cleary told the Associated Press he experienced several mental health episodes while in custody.

International manhunt

Cleary was the target of a worldwide search after authorities in Pennsylvania issued a 2021 felony warrant in the case. That warrant was issued weeks after an Associated Press story detailed the reluctance of local prosecutors to pursue campus sex crimes.

The arrest warrant accused Cleary of stalking an 18-year-old Gettysburg College student at a party, sneaking into her dorm and sexually assaulting her while she texted friends for help. He was a 20-year-old Gettysburg student at the time, but did not return to campus.

According to a French judicial official, Cleary was detained on the street in Metz on April 24, 2024 as part of a police check. He told a magistrate that he had “arrived in France two or three years ago” from Albania and had only recently come to Metz, but did not have housing there, the official said.

Cleary, according to his online posts, had previously spent time in France and also has ties to California and Maryland. His father is a tech executive in Silicon Valley, while his mother has lived in Baltimore.

The Gettysburg accuser had a rape exam done the same day she was assaulted in 2013. She gathered witnesses and evidence and spent years urging officials to file charges. She went to authorities again in 2021 after discovering the Facebook messages that seemed to come from Cleary’s account.

“So I raped you,” the sender had written in a string of messages.

“I’ll never do it to anyone ever again.”

“I need to hear your voice.”

“I’ll pray for you.”

According to the June 2021 warrant, police verified that the Facebook account used to send the messages belonged to Ian Cleary. Adams County District Attorney Brian Sinnett filed the warrant.

After leaving Gettysburg, Cleary earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from Santa Clara University, near his family home in California, worked for Tesla, then moved to France for several years, according to his website, which describes his self-published medieval fiction.

NOTE: The AP contributed to this report.