Max Factor heir Andrew Luster released after serving 20 years, barred from Ventura County
Andrew Luster, a Max Factor heir convicted of raping women, has been released from prison after serving about 20 years and is living in Glendora, east of Los Angeles. His release has angered residents and the city’s mayor, while court-ordered restrictions bar him for life from Ventura County and limit his proximity to victims’ homes.
Luster was convicted in 2003 on 86 counts after fleeing to Mexico; the article says he had been accused of drugging and raping three women and filming the attacks. His original 124-year sentence was reduced to 50 years in 2013, and a 2016 California rule change classifying him as a non-violent offender led to his early release. He is on parole for three years, must wear an ankle monitor and is listed on the state sex-offender registry.
In short
- Andrew Luster has been released after serving about 20 years.
- He is barred from Ventura County for life and monitored.
- Glendora’s mayor and residents have expressed outrage.
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The case for
Residents’ alarm is understandable given the gravity of Luster’s crimes and the lasting harm to victims; his presence nearby can also make people feel unsafe even with legal restrictions in place. They may argue that public confidence requires close scrutiny of how sentencing changes and release decisions apply to serious sexual offences.
The case against
A person who has served the term set under the law is entitled to release under the rules that govern their sentence, and restrictions such as parole monitoring and limits on where they may live can manage public risk. Supporters of applying the 2016 classification may argue that release decisions should follow consistent legal standards rather than be altered by local anger, while still recognising the victims’ harm.
Explained simply
Andrew Luster is an heir to the Max Factor cosmetics fortune who was convicted in California in 2003 of multiple sexual offences involving three women. The case drew attention after he fled to Mexico before his trial and was later returned to the United States.
California’s rules on sentencing and release changed after his conviction, and a 2016 change to how his offences were classified made him eligible for release earlier than his original sentence suggested. He remains on parole and must follow restrictions set by the court, including staying out of Ventura County and away from victims’ homes.
The case matters because it raises questions about how sentencing rules, parole conditions and public safety apply after serious convictions. Sex-offender registration and electronic monitoring are among the measures that apply to Luster after release.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Outrage as serial rapist Max Factor heir is sprung from prison early… but is banned for life from California town where he preyed on women”.