A French court has ruled that an American man accused of sexually assaulting a Pennsylvania college student in 2013 and later sending her a disturbing Facebook message can be extradited to the United States. Ian Cleary, 31, of Saratoga, California, was detained in April in Metz, France, after a three-year search and has been held in custody pending extradition proceedings since then.
The Court of Appeal in Metz has granted the extradition request, despite Cleary's refusal to be extradited. This decision is final, and now the French Justice Ministry is tasked with preparing and submitting the extradition order for the French prime minister's signature. In the meantime, Cleary remains detained in France.
