A former University of California Santa Barbara student was sentenced this week to 30 years to life in state prison for raping multiple women during his time as a student, capping a case that included a dramatic escape attempt from the courthouse basement the day his verdict came down. Arian Eteghaei, now 24, was 19 years old when the offenses occurred in Santa Barbara County.
Superior Court Judge Von Deroian handed down the sentence, ordering Eteghaei to serve it after a jury trial earlier this year found him guilty of forcible rape against multiple victims, according to KRON4. Santa Barbara County District Attorney John Savrnoch said the sentence held Eteghaei accountable for the serious harm he caused. Prosecutors say the assaults occurred while Eteghaei was a UCSB student, and one victim accused him of sexually assaulting her during a party at his Isla Vista apartment.
The January verdict itself was chaotic. After the jury returned its findings, Eteghaei attempted to flee the Santa Barbara County courthouse while still handcuffed, running a block before bailiffs and bystanders tackled him, per the station's report. According to the Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office, that three-month trial ended on January 16, 2026, with jurors convicting Eteghaei of forcible rape, forcible sexual penetration, and misdemeanor domestic violence battery, but deadlocking on 14 remaining counts involving six total accusers.
Escape Attempt Became Its Own Criminal Case
The courthouse escape was not a minor footnote — it turned into a separate prosecution. Sheriff's deputies sustained minor injuries and uniform damage while apprehending Eteghaei near State Street after he broke free from bailiffs in the courthouse basement, according to Noozhawk. Two civilian bystanders reportedly helped bailiffs pin him down before deputies took him back into custody.
Savrnoch filed a separate felony complaint on March 11, charging Eteghaei with escape by force or violence under Penal Code Section 4532(b)(2). Eteghaei pleaded not guilty to that charge on March 18, and it remains a pending legal matter alongside his prison term, Noozhawk reports.
Defense Sought New Trial Over Juror Conduct
Before sentencing could proceed, defense attorney Michael Artan sought a new trial, arguing jurors had engaged in misconduct by discussing undisclosed personal experiences with sexual assault during deliberations. Judge Von Deroian rejected that argument, denying the motion for a new trial on August 6, clearing the final legal obstacle before sentencing.
Prosecutors said the case relied heavily on the willingness of accusers to come forward and testify. Savrnoch expressed gratitude to the jurors who listened to the evidence for months, and said the victims' courage made the case possible. He added that the victims participated in a long and difficult legal process, and that their testimony allowed the truth to be heard. Senior Deputy District Attorney Lauren Franco prosecuted the case.
Sentencing Hearing Included Victim Impact Statement
At the August 10 sentencing hearing, a victim witness advocate read a letter on behalf of an ex-girlfriend identified as Jane Doe H.O.C., who wrote that she had not felt safe in five years and had lost her sense of joy following the assault, according to Noozhawk. Brief oral statements were also delivered in court by Eteghaei, Artan, Eteghaei's father, and his girlfriend of nine months before the judge imposed the sentence.
Judge Von Deroian ordered Eteghaei to serve 364 days in county jail immediately — stemming from the misdemeanor domestic violence conviction — before beginning the consecutive 30-years-to-life state prison term. While testifying in his own defense, Eteghaei had claimed the sexual encounters were consensual.
Case Grew After Initial Arrest in 2021
The investigation dates back to August 2021, when Eteghaei was first arrested after three women reported sexual assaults. Three additional accusers came forward after publicity surrounding his arrest, prompting a second criminal filing that November, according to The Santa Barbara Independent. By the time the case reached trial, Eteghaei faced 17 counts total across six accusers.
In February, the Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office announced it would not pursue a retrial on the 14 deadlocked counts. The multi-year investigation was conducted jointly by the University of California Police Department — including Sgt. Arlene Samaniego and former Detective Kovena Avila — and District Attorney Investigator Chad Hunt, according to the Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office.
Eteghaei graduated from Dublin High School in Dublin, California, in 2020, where he was known as a standout soccer player in the East Bay, per KRON4. He went on to attend UC Santa Barbara before the allegations against him surfaced during his time as a student there.
