A man sent a disturbing private Facebook message to a woman he had sexually assaulted 12 years ago, stating, “So I raped you.” Ian Cleary, who assaulted the woman during his university days, faced consequences for his actions after the victim reported the incident to the police at the time but did not see justice until recently. The victim expressed the emotional distress of reliving past trauma when Cleary sent the message, but she found solace in seeing her abuser finally held accountable.
Cleary, now 32, was sentenced to two to four years in prison by a court in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, with Senior Judge Kevin Hess condemning his “horrifying” behavior. The assault occurred when Cleary intruded into the woman’s residence hall, forced his way into her room, and assaulted her just before Christmas break when she was 18 and in her first semester at the university.
In 2019, Cleary attempted to seek redemption by sending a remorseful message to the woman on social media, claiming it was part of his rehabilitation process. However, this only caused further distress to the victim, prompting her to pursue legal action against him.
During the sentencing, the victim expressed her disappointment in the system’s failure to protect her initially but found closure in seeing Cleary face consequences. Despite expectations for a harsher sentence, Cleary received a lesser punishment, leading to mixed feelings among those involved. The judge acknowledged Cleary’s admission of guilt and his attempt at seeking forgiveness, highlighting the importance of accountability after years of evasion.
After leaving Gettysburg following the assault, Cleary completed his studies in Silicon Valley, California, where he grew up before facing legal repercussions back in Pennsylvania. The victim, who had awaited justice for over a decade, emphasized the enduring impact of the assault on her life and family, underscoring the importance of accountability and closure in the legal process.