U.S. Man Who Sent “So I Raped You” Message to Victim Gets 4-Year Prison Term

PENNSYLVANIA – More than a decade after the 2013 campus assault that shocked Gettysburg College, Ian Cleary was sentenced on Monday to two to four years in prison for sexually assaulting a fellow student and later admitting the crime in a Facebook message that read, “So I raped you.” The long-delayed justice came after years of struggle by victim Shannon Keeler, who fought tirelessly for accountability despite years of inaction from authorities.

The Gettysburg College sexual assault case gained national attention after Cleary’s message to Keeler resurfaced in 2019, reopening wounds that the survivor had carried for years. The Gettysburg College sexual assault prompted discussions about the justice system’s failure to protect survivors of campus crimes. The Gettysburg College sexual assault case was revived after Cleary, now 32, was extradited from France in 2024 and pleaded guilty to second-degree sexual assault earlier this year.

During sentencing, Senior Judge Kevin Hess acknowledged that the Gettysburg College sexual assault was “horrifying,” especially for families with daughters in college. He noted that Cleary’s guilty plea and remorse were taken into account when determining the prison term, which was below state guidelines. Cleary, who had fled the country after the Gettysburg College sexual assault, later worked for Tesla in California and earned a master’s degree before relocating overseas.

In court, Cleary apologized directly to Keeler and his father, admitting to years of mental health struggles. “I’m committed to getting treatment for mental health and stuff like that as I go forward,” he said. The Gettysburg College sexual assault case had remained unresolved for years as prosecutors hesitated to move forward due to lack of evidence and procedural delays.

Keeler, now a vocal advocate for survivors of sexual violence, delivered a powerful victim impact statement. She recounted how the system that was supposed to protect her instead shielded her assailant. “The system meant to protect me protected you instead,” she said, her voice breaking as she reflected on the Gettysburg College sexual assault and her 12-year battle for justice. She told the court that although the sentencing brought closure, it came “at a cost,” as crucial evidence, including her rape kit, had been destroyed with time.

Cleary’s sentencing marks the end of a long and painful chapter in the Gettysburg College sexual assault case. He faced a maximum of 10 years in prison, but the final sentence was reduced in recognition of his guilty plea and mental health history. Prosecutors, however, maintained that justice delayed had denied Keeler years of peace.

Authorities in the U.S. and Europe had struggled for years to locate Cleary after the indictment in 2021, finally finding him in Metz, France, in 2024, detained on an unrelated charge. Adams County District Attorney Brian Sinnett acknowledged that while they couldn’t prove Cleary intentionally evaded arrest, “the timing raises questions.”

Keeler, who had shared her story in an Associated Press report highlighting the reluctance of prosecutors to pursue campus sex crimes, said she hoped her case would inspire change. “The system that failed me a decade ago finally delivered accountability, but at a cost,” she told the court, adding that her life had moved forward, but the emotional scars of the Gettysburg College sexual assault would always remain.

As Cleary begins his prison sentence, the Gettysburg College sexual assault case stands as a reminder of the long road survivors often face in seeking justice — and the systemic reforms still needed to ensure that no victim’s voice goes unheard again.