A former student at the University of California, Santa Barbara, has been sentenced to 30 years to life in prison for multiple counts of forcible rape and sexual penetration. Arian Eteghaei, 24, was convicted by a jury on Jan. 16 and, on the same day, allegedly escaped from courthouse custody by force.
Eteghaei's sentencing follows a lengthy prosecution involving allegations of sexual violence at UC Santa Barbara, a university that has been ranked as the nation's top party school by Niche for two consecutive years. In addition to the rape and sexual penetration charges, jurors also found true a special allegation that the offenses were committed against more than one victim. He was also convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence.
Prosecutors have since filed an additional felony charge against Eteghaei for escape by force, stemming from his alleged flight from custody on the day of his conviction.
The Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office stated that the case was made possible by the courage of the victims who came forward. "Their strength and willingness to testify allowed the truth to be heard and ultimately allowed the defendant to be held accountable for the serious harm he caused," said District Attorney John T. Savrnoch.
UC Santa Barbara has faced increased scrutiny regarding campus safety and sexual violence in recent years. According to campus crime data reviewed by Fox News Digital, more than 100 rapes were reported between 2022 and 2024. The university has issued campus-wide warnings following separate sexual assault reports. In June, a Timely Warning was issued after a woman reported being groped in broad daylight near Tierra De Fortuna Park. In May, an 18-year-old freshman reported being raped and strangled after meeting an individual at a fraternity party.
UC Santa Barbara police have stated that federal law limits the disclosure of information regarding active investigations but emphasized that all reported crimes on university property are thoroughly investigated. The department also noted its close collaboration with the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office and District Attorney's Office when appropriate.