A college student from California, convicted of multiple counts of rape and sexual assault, made a sudden escape as he was being led from the courtroom.
Arianne Etegaei, 23, previously a student at the University of California, Santa Barbara, fled shortly after a jury found him guilty on three counts of sexual assault involving five women, as well as an assault on another individual.
As he was handcuffed and escorted to a secure holding cell, Etegaei attempted to run toward State Street in downtown Santa Barbara, shouting obscenities, according to videos captured by authorities.
Just before the court hearing began, his attorney argued that Etegaei—who had previously been released on bail—should be allowed to remain free until his sentencing, scheduled for April 8.
When Etegaei bolted, the bailiff struggled to restrain him until another officer arrived. Some bystanders also stepped in to help. Together, they managed to pin him down to the ground.
Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Raquel Zick later confirmed that Etegaei had escaped during transport from the courtroom to a secure area.
Arrested in 2021 while studying biology at UCSB, Etegaei faced charges related to the assault of three women initially, but later, three more victims came forward after media coverage.
Among the testifying victims was a former girlfriend, who described being raped and assaulted during a party at Etegaei’s apartment in Isla Vista. Etegaei defended himself in court, asserting that the encounter had been consensual.
While the jury could not reach a conclusion on a few charges, they ultimately convicted him of sexual penetration with a foreign object, domestic violence against one victim, and forcible rape against another.
District Attorney John T. Savrnok praised the victims’ bravery in coming forward and testifying, which he noted played a crucial role in holding Etegaei accountable for his actions.
The 23-year-old has been sentenced to 30 years in prison.
