Arian Eteghaei, 24, a former UC Santa Barbara student convicted of raping and sexually assaulting multiple women, has been sentenced to 30 years to life in prison, a sentence that comes after a brazen attempt to escape custody immediately following his conviction. The conviction and sentencing highlight ongoing concerns about sexual violence at UC Santa Barbara, which has been repeatedly named the nation’s top party school. Eteghaei’s case, which includes convictions for forcible rape and forcible sexual penetration against multiple victims, adds to a disturbing pattern of campus crime. Authorities reported that Eteghaei escaped by force on the same day his verdict was delivered, leading to additional felony charges for escape. This incident occurs against a backdrop of over 100 reported rapes at the university between 2022 and 2024, and recent campus-wide warnings prompted by separate sexual assault reports, including an incident where a student reported being raped and strangled after meeting someone at a fraternity party, and another involving a daylight stalking and groping incident. Prosecutors emphasized the courage of the victims in coming forward, stating that their strength was crucial in holding Eteghaei accountable for the serious harm he caused, while also noting the years of persistence and careful investigation required to build the case.
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