A man sent a disturbing message on Facebook to a woman he had previously sexually assaulted, stating, “So I raped you,” 12 years after the incident occurred. Ian Cleary assaulted the woman during his university days, and despite her reporting it to the authorities then, no action was taken for over a decade. When Cleary sent the message, the victim expressed the reopening of old wounds, but this time, justice prevailed as he was apprehended.
Recently, Cleary was sentenced to two to four years in prison in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where the court condemned his appalling behavior. The judge, Senior Judge Kevin Hess, revealed that Cleary, now 32, had forcibly entered the woman’s residence hall, barged into her room, and assaulted her just before Christmas when she was an 18-year-old freshman on campus.
In 2019, Cleary attempted to reach out to the woman via social media, claiming it was part of his rehabilitation process, but instead, it caused her further distress, prompting her to seek legal action against him.
During the court proceedings, the victim emotionally stated, “The system that should have protected me failed and protected you instead. This is not just my story, but the story of many women.”
Despite Cleary facing a potential prison term of 10 years for his actions, the victim’s lawyer, Andrea Levy, expressed disappointment in the comparatively lenient sentence but acknowledged relief that the case was finally resolved.
While acknowledging Cleary’s admission of guilt and his attempt at seeking forgiveness, the judge highlighted the importance of accountability, emphasizing that the passage of time did not diminish the severity of his actions.
After fleeing Gettysburg following the assault, Cleary completed his studies in Silicon Valley, California, before eventually facing justice in Pennsylvania. Reflecting on the long-awaited legal proceedings, the woman commented, “I had been waiting for this moment for 12 years.” She further expressed the lasting impact of the ordeal on her life and family, emphasizing the importance of accountability despite the challenges faced due to lost evidence and the passage of time.