UC Santa Barbara Student Sentenced to 30 Years to Life for Multiple Sexual Assaults

Arian Eteghaei, 24, received a sentence of 30 years to life in California state prison following his conviction on charges of forcible rape and forcible sexual penetration of multiple women while attending UC Santa Barbara. A jury found him guilty on all counts, and jurors also determined that the offenses involved more than one victim. The sentencing concluded a lengthy prosecution centered on crimes committed during Eteghaei’s time as a student at the university.

Hours after the verdict was returned on January 16, authorities say Eteghaei escaped from courthouse custody by force, prompting prosecutors to file an additional felony charge of escape by force in March. His attempt to flee marked an extraordinary turn in a case that had already drawn significant attention to sexual violence on campus.

Santa Barbara County District Attorney John T. Savrnoch credited the victims’ courage in coming forward and participating in what he described as a protracted and difficult legal process. He noted that the investigation required years of persistence and careful work by law enforcement, prosecutors, investigators, and victim advocates to bring the defendant to justice.

Eteghaei was also convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence as part of the case. His conviction adds to mounting concerns about sexual assault at UC Santa Barbara, which Niche has ranked as the nation’s top party school for two consecutive years.

Campus crime data reviewed by Fox News Digital documented more than 100 reported rapes at the university between 2022 and 2024. In recent months, two separate sexual assault incidents prompted campus-wide warnings and heightened scrutiny of student safety protocols at the institution.

In May, an 18-year-old freshman reported being raped and strangled after meeting a man at a fraternity party and returning to her dormitory at Tropicana Gardens in Isla Vista. The survivor’s family, represented by attorney Tyrone Maho, publicly requested that witnesses come forward and appealed to the university’s chancellor to request that the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office take over the investigation.

Days later, a second incident occurred when a woman reported being stalked and groped in daylight near Tierra De Fortuna Park on the West Campus on June 24 around 11:30 a.m. Police said a man on a bicycle approached her from behind after circling back multiple times over a 15-minute span, then fled toward the park.

UC Santa Barbara police emphasized that federal law restricts disclosure of details regarding active investigations but confirmed they fully investigate all crimes reported on university property. The department stated it maintains direct contact with victims’ families and coordinates with the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office and District Attorney’s Office as warranted.