A California man convicted of drugging and sexually assaulting three women and originally sentenced to 124 years in prison has been released after serving approximately 20 years, drawing sharp condemnation from local officials who say the outcome undermines public safety and trust in the justice system.
Andrew Luster, the great-grandson of cosmetics mogul Max Factor, was released from state prison earlier this month and is reportedly residing in Glendora, California. Glendora Mayor David Fredendall called the release unacceptable in a statement, saying the city is «beyond disappointed» and «outraged.»
Luster was convicted in 2003 of 86 felony counts stemming from the drugging and sexual assault of three women at his beachfront home in Ventura County. Prosecutors said he used the drug GHB to render the women unconscious before assaulting them. He fled to Mexico in January 2003 while free on $1 million bail during his trial, was convicted in his absence, and was later captured by celebrity bounty hunter Duane «Dog» Chapman in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
The original 124-year sentence was set aside in March 2013 by a California judge who found that the trial court failed to adequately explain its reasons for imposing consecutive sentences. Ventura County Superior Court Judge Kathryne Ann Stoltz rejected Luster's attempt to overturn his convictions but granted him a new sentencing hearing. In April 2013, she resentenced him to 50 years in prison. Prosecutors opposed the reduced sentence, describing his crimes as «cruel, vicious and callous.»
Luster was denied parole in 2022 and again in April 2025 after Ventura County prosecutors successfully challenged a 2024 parole grant. He had been expected to remain incarcerated until October 2026, when his calculated prison term would end. His release has renewed criticism of California's criminal justice system, particularly Proposition 57, a voter-approved measure passed in 2016 that expanded parole consideration for certain offenders.
Fredendall argued that the outcome contradicts assurances given to voters when Proposition 57 was approved. «When California voters approved Proposition 57 in 2016, they were assured by Governor Jerry Brown and his administration that dangerous offenders would remain behind bars,» he said. «The State may argue that this was not technically an early release. It can point to sentencing credits, legal calculations, and administrative requirements. However, those technical explanations do not address the larger concern: how an individual originally sentenced to 124 years in prison for heinous crimes is able to walk out of a secured facility after only 20 years.»
California Assemblywoman Blanca E. Rubio, who represents the 48th Assembly District, also criticized the release. «I am outraged and deeply disturbed by the decision to grant parole to convicted serial rapist Andrew Luster,» she said. «It is incomprehensible that an individual originally sentenced to 124 years in prison for such horrific crimes could be granted parole after serving approximately 20 years.» Rubio said the decision raises questions about whether the state's parole system adequately protects victims and communities.
«Our justice system is supposed to protect the innocent, hold violent criminals accountable, and provide victims with a sense of justice,» she said. «Decisions like this undermine public confidence in that system and send a devastating message to survivors of sexual assault.» Rubio added that she is working with local officials and law enforcement to learn more about the circumstances of Luster's release, including the conditions of his supervision.
Fredendall expressed concern that Luster is reportedly living near schools, parks, playgrounds and other community spaces. He said the city's police department will work with state parole authorities to ensure every applicable law and condition of supervision is followed. «We will do everything within our lawful authority to protect our residents,» he said. «But local governments should not be forced to shoulder the public-safety consequences of decisions made in Sacramento without adequate transparency and accountability.» The mayor said the city is demanding additional information from state officials about the release and the measures being taken to monitor Luster.