A cosmetics heir and convicted serial rapist has been released from prison after serving less than half of his sentence.
Andrew Luster, 62, was released to parole supervision on October 11, 'after serving his full sentence as required by law,' according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR).
Luster was convicted in 2003 on 86 counts of drugging and raping three women at his Ventura County beachfront home. He is the great-grandson of Max Factor Sr, founder of the namesake cosmetics empire.
During his trial, Luster fled to Mexico after posting a $1 million bond and was captured by bounty hunter Duane 'The Dog' Chapman.
He was initially sentenced to 124 years behind bars, but that was reduced to 50 years in 2013 after the superior court found the trial judge 'failed to state specific reasons for imposing full consecutive sentences.'
Luster was released after serving 23 years, less than half his sentence, under California law Proposition 57, a voter-approved measure that passed in 2016 that allows early parole for nonviolent crimes and changes sentence credits.
'This is not an early release. According to voter-approved propositions, determinate-sentenced incarcerated individuals may reduce their carceral time due to the earning of worktime and good conduct credits,' CDCR said.
'In this case, Andrew Luster received 977 days of pre-sentence credit and was eligible for credit-earning opportunities while incarcerated.'
Andrew Luster, now 62, has been released from prison after he was convicted in 2003 for drugging and raping three women at his Ventura County beachfront home
He was initially sentenced to 124 years behind bars, but that was reduced to 50 years in 2013
During his trial, Luster fled to Mexico after posting a $1 million bond and was captured by bounty hunter Duane 'The Dog' Chapman
Under California law, the rape of an unconscious person qualifies as a nonviolent offense.
Luster sought early release in 2024, but a judge denied it and overturned the parole board's decision.
One of his victims, Tonja Balden, previously told the Daily Mail she was 'afraid' he would continue his crimes if released.
At the time, the Ventura County District Attorney's Office released a statement opposing his release.
'Our office stands firmly against the release of Andrew Luster,' said District Attorney Erik Nasarenko.
'His heinous acts, which include drugging and raping his victims, warrant a full and complete prison sentence. During his time in state prison, Luster has continued to minimize his conduct and releasing him would be a grave injustice to the survivors and a threat to public safety.'
Over a four-year span from October 1996 through July 2000, when Luster was in his early 30s, he targeted young women in college bars and drugged them with gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), according to the district attorney's office.
'After rendering his victims into a life-threatening state of unconsciousness, Luster engaged in sadistic sexual abuse of their comatose bodies. In two of the attacks, Luster recorded his rape and sexual abuse of the victims,' the district attorney's office said.
When Luster was up for parole again in 2025, Senior Deputy District Attorney Anthony Wold, who prosecuted the case, called for him to serve his full sentence, noting that would mean he would be released in 2026.
Luster is the great-grandson of Max Factor Sr, who founded the Max Factor cosmetics empire
Max Factor Senior was a Polish-American businessman who is largely credited with developing the modern cosmetics industry and popularizing the term 'makeup.' He died in 1938 at 65 years old
One of his victims, Tonja Balden, previously told the Daily Mail she was 'afraid' he would continue his crimes if released
'By drugging his victims into a coma-like state, Andrew Luster played Russian roulette with the lives of his victims so he could abuse their comatose bodies,' Wold said.
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'Even now, he attempts to rewrite the history of his heinous crimes to falsely mitigate his culpability to gain early release. He remains a highly dangerous sexual predator. We continue to maintain that he should serve his full sentence. He's earned it.'
The mayor of Glendora, where Luster is allegedly living after leaving prison, issued a statement condemning his release.
'The City of Glendora is beyond disappointed. We are outraged,' Mayor David Fredendall said on Sunday.
'He has now been released from State prison and is reportedly residing in our community.'
Fredendall blasted Proposition 57 and former Governor Jerry Brown for claiming that dangerous offenders and sex offenders would be ineligible under the law.
'The people of Glendora should not have to worry about their safety because of a decision by the State that allows an individual with a history of rape and violence to now live in close proximity to schools, parks, playgrounds, churches, and community centers,' the mayor said.
'They deserve better than explanations that hide behind the mechanics of a deeply flawed system.'
The Daily Mail contacted the Ventura County District Attorney's Office for comment.