Andrew Luster

For the professor of medicine, see Andrew D. Luster.
Andrew Luster

Mug shot
Born (1963-12-15) 15 December 1963
Las Vegas, Nevada
Criminal charge Rape, sodomy, oral copulation, unlawful flight to avoid prosecution
Criminal penalty 50 years (124 years before appeal), $1 million fine
Criminal status Incarcerated in Mule Creek State Prison
Children Connor
Quinn
Parent(s) Henry Luster (deceased)
Elizabeth Luster
Conviction(s) January 22, 2003 (in absentia; captured June 18, 2003)

Andrew Stuart Luster (born December 15, 1963) is the great-grandson of cosmetics giant Max Factor, Sr., and heir to the Max Factor cosmetics fortune.[1] He was convicted of multiple sexual assaults using the date-rape drug GHB in 2003.

Early life

Andrew Luster is the son of Henry Luster, a psychiatrist, and Elizabeth Luster (née Shore). His mother was the adopted daughter of Max Factor, Sr.'s daughter Freda.[2] He grew up in Malibu, California, and attended Windward School in Los Angeles.[3]

After graduating, Luster moved to Mussel Shoals, California, subsisting on a $1 million trust fund and living in a $600,000 cottage on the beach. According to the Los Angeles Times, this move and Luster's "freewheeling lifestyle" weakened his "already tenuous" ties to the Factor family, which was heavily involved in the Arts and philanthropy.[3]

Sexual assault charges and conviction

In 2000, Luster was arrested when a student at a local college told police that she had been raped at Luster's home.[1][4] Upon investigation, police charged Luster with drugging three women with the date-rape drug GHB, sexually assaulting them, and video-taping the assaults, having found videotapes of the assaults when they searched his home.[4] After paying $1 million bail, Luster failed to appear in court to defend himself against the charges in January 2003.[4] Luster was convicted in absentia and sentenced to 124 years in prison.[1][5] In June 2003, he was abducted by American bounty hunter Duane "Dog" Chapman in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; both men were subsequently arrested by Mexican police.[1]

Prison sentence and civil suits

Luster is currently incarcerated at Mule Creek State Prison in Ione, California. Under California law, since his crimes harmed other persons, he is required to serve at least 85% of his sentence before becoming eligible for release with time off with good behavior. Had his original sentence stood, Luster would not have even been considered for release until he served 105 years—effectively a life sentence.

In late 2009, Luster filed a petition for habeas corpus as the final possibility of having his case reviewed by another court on appeal.[6] Luster was represented in that suit by J. David Nick and Jay Leiderman. The habeas corpus petition was granted in April 2012.[7] On March 11, 2013, the Ventura County Superior Court vacated Luster's 124-year sentence but not his conviction, based on the trial judge's failure to state specific reasons for imposing consecutive sentences, and ordered a new sentencing hearing April 4, 2013.[8]

On April 16, 2013, Ventura County Superior Court Judge Kathryne Stoltz reduced Luster's sentence to 50 years—48 years for the rapes and two years for the drug-related charges. According to prosecutors, Luster will be eligible for parole in 2028. Luster's lawyers have indicated there will be an appeal.[9]

Two of the victims won civil lawsuits against Luster, who was ordered to pay a total of $40 million. Luster subsequently sold most of his property and declared bankruptcy.[10]

Media portrayals

After he vanished, a movie called A Date with Darkness: The Trial and Capture of Andrew Luster was made based on him and his victims. The film was supposed to end with a picture of the real Andrew Luster, and a request to the audience to notify authorities if they should see him. When Luster was finally captured, the film was still shooting. The ending was re-written to incorporate his capture.

On August 28, 2009, the true crime TV Series Dominick Dunne's Power, Privilege, and Justice aired an episode on the case in Season 3, Episode 4, "Evil Deeds".

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Fugitive and Heir to Cosmetics Fortune Is Captured in Mexico". The New York Times. 19 June 2003.
  2. ↑ Fischer, Mary A. (2002-12-01). "The Thin Blurred Line - Page 3 - Los Angeles Times". Articles.latimes.com. Retrieved 2013-09-28.
  3. 1 2 Fischer, Mary A. (1 December 2002). "The Thin Blurred Line". latimes.com. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 Leduff, Charlie (8 January 2003). "Cosmetics Heir Is Missing As His Rape Trial Proceeds". The New York Times.
  5. ↑ "Max Factor heir to pay damages". the Guardian. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  6. ↑ Hernandez, Raul. Luster petitions court to free him. Ventura County Star, 2009-11-12.
  7. ↑ "Ventura County Star 10 December 2012, retrieved 23 January 2013". Vcstar.com. Retrieved 2013-09-28.
  8. ↑   (2013-03-11). "Convicted rapist Andrew Luster's 124-year sentence vacated". Latimesblogs.latimes.com. p. m. Retrieved 2013-09-28.
  9. ↑ "Andrew Luster, Max Factor Heir, Resentenced To 50 Years For Rapes". The Huffington Post. 17 April 2013. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
  10. ↑ Krajicek, David. "Andrew Luster, Max Factor heir and convicted rapist". The Crime library. Archived from the original on October 11, 2008. Retrieved 2013-09-28.

External links

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