A French court ruled on Monday that the American man charged of sexually attacking a Pennsylvania university student in 2013 and later on sending her a Facebook message that stated, “So I raped you,” can be extradited to the United States.

Ian Cleary, 31, of Saratoga, California, was detained in April in the city of Metz in northeastern France after a three-year search. He has actually been held in custodianship pending extradition process given that his apprehension.

The Court of Appeal in Metz stated that Cleary can be extradited. When asked if he desired to be extradited or otherwise, in accordance with French regulation, Cleary rejected, district attorneys stated in a declaration Monday. His rejection might postpone the extradition procedure, however it will not quit it.

The judgment is last. Cleary’s instance is currently the obligation of the French Justice Ministry, which need to prepare and send the extradition order for the French head of state. While he waits for the head of state’s trademark, Cleary stays detained in France.

Justice Ministry authorities really did not promptly react to an ask for remark.

Cleary had actually been the topic of a global search given that authorities in Pennsylvania provided a 2021 felony warrant in case weeks after an Associated Press tale described the unwillingness of regional district attorneys to seek university sex criminal offenses.

The apprehension warrant implicates Cleary of tracking an 18-year-old Gettysburg College pupil at an event, creeping right into her dormitory and sexually attacking her while she texted close friends for assistance. He was a 20-year-old Gettysburg pupil at the time, however really did not go back to university.

The Gettysburg accuser, Shannon Keeler, had a rape test done the very same day she was attacked in 2013. She collected witnesses and proof and invested years prompting authorities to submit costs. She mosted likely to authorities once again in 2021 after uncovering the Facebook messages that appeared to find from Cleary’s account.

“So I raped you,” the sender had actually created in a string of messages.

“I’ll never do it to anyone ever again.”

“I need to hear your voice.”

“I’ll pray for you.”

The AP does not generally determine sexual offense targets without their authorization, which Keeler has actually approved. The accuser’s attorney in Pennsylvania, gotten to on Monday, decreased to discuss the advancement.

According to the June 2021 warrant, authorities validated that the Facebook account made use of to send out the messages came from Ian Cleary. Adams County District Attorney Brian Sinnett, that submitted it, decreased to discuss advancements when gotten to Monday.

After leaving Gettysburg, Cleary gained undergraduate and academic degrees from Santa Clara University, near his household home in California, helped Tesla, and afterwards transferred to France for numerous years, according to his site, which explains his self-published middle ages fiction.

Keeler, initially from Moorestown, New Jersey, remained on to finish from Gettysburg and aid lead the ladies’s lacrosse group to a nationwide title.

By 2023, 2 years after the warrant was submitted, Keeler and her attorneys questioned just how he was preventing capture in the age of electronic monitoring. The U.S. Marshals Service believed he was most likely abroad and on the action, also as he was the topic of an Interpol sharp called a red notification.

Across the U.S., extremely couple of university rapes are prosecuted, both due to the fact that targets are afraid mosting likely to authorities and district attorneys think twice to bring instances that can be tough to win, the AP examination located.

Keeler, when the warrant was provided, stated she was thankful, however recognized it just occurred “because I went public with my story, which no survivor should have to do in order to obtain justice.”

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Dale reported from Philadelphia.