by Rachel Ogbu
Heir to the Max Factor fortune, Andrew Luster has received a 124-year prison sentence for drugging and raping three women.
Luster, 49, the great-grandson of cosmetics giant Max Factor was arrested in 2000 and was charged with drugging three women with GHB and while they unconscious, he raped them at the beachfront home.
According to reports, he was convicted in 2003 of 86 felony counts while on the lam. Jurors saw videotapes he had made of himself engaging in sex acts with some of the women. He was captured the same year in Mexico by bounty hunter Duane “Dog” Chapman.
On Monday, Ventura County Superior Court Judge Kathryne Ann Stoltz said in a 31-page ruling that Luster was granted a new sentencing hearing because the trial judge “failed to state specific reasons for imposing full consecutive sentences” as required by law.
[READ: SHOCKER: “Teenage sex slave raped 90 times in one weekend” in UK human trafficking ring]
Earlier, Luster had tried to have his sentence reduced and wanted a new trial, an evidentiary hearing was held last month. He claimed he was deprived of proper legal representation and received bad legal advice. In court, he stated that he flew to Mexico during his trial because his attorney and an investigator convinced him the local justice system was corrupt and suggested he run.
“I felt the court was fixed,” Luster said.
His attorney, Jay Leiderman, argued previous defense attorneys should have encouraged Luster to seriously consider a plea bargain from prosecutors. However, prosecutors said there was never a formal deal offered to Luster.
In her ruling, Stoltz rejected Luster’s bid for a new trial and an attempt to void his conviction
“In this case, this court believes that, overall, Luster received effective assistance of counsel,” Stoltz said. “He got good legal advice explained in detail from more than one source. However, that advice wasn’t what Luster wanted to hear.”
A hearing was set for April 4.
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