A joint investigation has been launched to find other potential victims after criminal charges alleging sexual assault were filed against Arian Eteghaei in Santa Barbara County Superior Court.
District Attorney Joyce Dudley announced on Friday the joint sexual assault investigation involving the District Attorney’s Office and the UCSB Police Department.
Eteghaei, 19, has been charged with two counts of forcible rape, two counts of forcible sexual penetration by foreign object, two counts of forcible oral copulation, false imprisonment by violance along with misdemeanor battery, according to the first amended criminal complaint.
The incidents reportedly involved three women and occurred between October 2020 and June 2021, according to the criminal complaint.
However, UCPD detectives believe that there may be additional victims/survivors or witnesses who have not yet been located or contacted, Dudley said.
“The Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office is well aware that survivors of sexual assault and abuse are often reluctant to come forward for a variety of reasons,” Dudley said. “With that in mind, we have many resources available through our Victim/Witness Assistance Division where our advocates will endeavor to ensure that the needs of survivors are not overshadowed by our focus on the investigation and prosecution of the accused.”
Victim advocates also work to ensure that survivors are kept informed and supported throughout the criminal justice process, she added.
Anyone with information related to the investigation can call DA Investigator Judith Hall at 805.568.2360.
— Noozhawk North County editor Janene Scully can be reached at jscully@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.