A man who had previously sexually assaulted a woman sent a disturbing Facebook message stating, “So I raped you,” twelve years after the assault occurred. Ian Cleary, who assaulted the woman during their time in university, was finally brought to justice after sending the private message, causing the victim to revisit painful memories.
Cleary, now 32 years old, was sentenced to two to four years in prison in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, after a judge described his actions as “horrifying.” The assault took place when Cleary sneaked into the woman’s residence hall, forced his way into her room, and assaulted her just before the Christmas break when she was 18 years old and in her first semester at the university.
In 2019, Cleary sent the woman a disturbing message on social media, claiming it was part of a rehabilitation program, but it only caused the victim more distress, leading her to seek justice. The victim expressed her frustration with the system that failed to protect her and allowed her abuser to go unpunished for so long.
Despite the sentencing guidelines indicating a possible maximum of 10 years in prison for Cleary, the victim’s lawyer expressed disappointment in the lighter sentence but acknowledged the relief that the case was finally closed. The judge recognized Cleary’s admission of guilt and his attempt at seeking forgiveness and contrition after a decade of silence.
Cleary left Gettysburg following the assault and completed his studies in Silicon Valley, California, before being brought back to Pennsylvania to face the consequences of his actions. The victim, who had been waiting for justice for 12 years, finally saw accountability served, although she highlighted the lasting impact the assault had on her and her family.
Throughout the proceedings, the victim emphasized the emotional toll the assault had taken on her life and the importance of holding perpetrators accountable, even after many years have passed.