Heir to cosmetics fortune released from prison sparks outrage in San Gabriel Valley

Andrew Stuart Luster, the great-grandson of cosmetics founder Max Factor, was convicted in 2003 on dozens of felony counts for drugging and raping unconscious women at college bars. After a 124-year sentence was cut to 50 years and he served roughly 25 years—including house arrest and pre-trial detention—he was released to parole supervision on Oct. 11, having accumulated 977 days of work and good-conduct credits. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation emphasized the release was not “early” under the law.

Glendora Mayor David Fredendall condemned the decision, saying the community’s safety is jeopardized and blaming Proposition 57, passed in 2016, for allowing non-violent offenders earlier parole. All three victims testified against release, and Ventura County prosecutors continued to argue Luster remains a threat. The case previously drew national attention when Luster fled to Mexico, was captured by bounty hunter Duane “Dog” Chapman, and later returned to prison.