A former UCSB student who was convicted of sexually assaulting multiple people was sentenced Monday to 30 years to life in state prison after a near five-year trial.
Arian Eteghaei in January was convicted of forcible rape and sexual penetration, both felony offenses, as well as misdemeanor domestic violence.
During the trial, the jury found out that Eteghaei had sexually assaulted more than one victim.
Two victims testified during the trial, attorney Lauren Franco for the prosecution told the News-Press.
“Every survivor who participated in this case exhibited an immense amount of courage and bravery by coming forward,” Franco wrote in a statement to the News-Press. “I am proud to have helped them get the justice they deserved.”
District Attorney John Savrnoch wrote in a statement that Franco had worked alongside the University of California Police Department, former detectives and investigators from the county district attorney’s office for the case.
He added that the decision from Judge Von Deroian would not have been possible without “the extraordinary courage of the victims.”
“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,” Savrnoch wrote.
Eteghaei was first arraigned in 2021. He currently has a pending case involving his attempt to flee custody while charged with a felony back in January.
