Key takeaways:

• Bail denied for Ian Cleary, accused of sexually assaulting a student in 2013.
• Cleary was detained in France prior to his extradition to the U.S.
• Victim Shannon Keeler expressed renewed faith in the justice system following extradition.

An American man, Ian Cleary, 31, from Saratoga, California, has been ordered to be held without bail during a preliminary court hearing in Pennsylvania following his extradition from France. Cleary is accused of sexually assaulting a Gettysburg University student, Shannon Keeler, in 2013 and sending her a shocking Facebook message stating, "So I raped you" later on. His court appearance comes just a day after arriving back in the United States, following a lengthy international search that began after an arrest warrant was issued in 2021 due to local prosecutors’ reluctance to pursue campus sex crime cases.

During the hearing, Cleary, who appeared via video but without legal representation, maintained a calm demeanor as District Judge Tony J. Little addressed the bail situation. The judge’s decision was influenced by the Adams County District Attorney's Office, which argued that Cleary had no permanent ties to the area, as he had been living in France without a job or a stable residence. Furthermore, the prosecution raised concerns about the financial resources available to him through his family.

Keeler has been advocating for justice for over a decade and expressed that Cleary’s extradition provided her with "renewed faith" in the justice system. The case gained traction after Keeler uncovered Facebook messages from Cleary that surfaced years after the allegations were made. These messages included disturbing sentiments such as, "I’ll never do it to anyone ever again" and "I need to hear your voice," which she reported to authorities in 2021, focusing attention back on the case.

The upcoming hearing for Ian Cleary is scheduled for January 29, as the legal proceedings continue amidst this high-profile case concerning campus sexual assault (CBS News) and longstanding issues regarding victim advocacy (AP News).