Multiple Rape Suspect Pleads Not Guilty

Rape suspect Andrew Stuart Luster pleaded not guilty Tuesday to 40 criminal charges stemming from alleged attacks on three women, with his attorney saying the videotaped sexual encounters between Luster and the apparently unconscious women were consensual.

“Prosecutors are going to have more than a few problems proving this was rape,” lawyer Joel Isaacson said. “Every encounter, every photo, every video was taken with the consent of the women.”

Luster’s plea came as Ventura County sheriff’s investigators finished reviewing about 50 home videos and dozens of photos that they say reveal as many as 15 more possible victims who were given the date-rape drug GHB before they were assaulted. The victims appear to be unconscious during the attacks, authorities said.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Becky Day said she expects to file additional charges against Luster in the coming weeks.

Police are investigating five other assaults that allegedly took place in Ventura County, Day said.

Dressed in a pale blue jail jumpsuit, Luster, the great-grandson of cosmetics giant Max Factor, fidgeted as he stood in a Ventura courtroom Tuesday while Isaacson entered the not guilty pleas on his behalf.

Outside of court, Isaacson said the case has been overblown because of Luster’s high-profile family.

“Because of the family name here, he is being treated differently,” said Isaacson, who criticized a judge’s decision to set Luster’s bail at $10 million, one of the highest amounts ever in the county.

Isaacson requested a hearing for Aug. 17 to argue for a bail reduction, saying that bail in similar cases throughout the state has been set at $50,000 to $100,000. He added that Luster’s net worth, estimated by authorities to be more than $30 million, is significantly less, but he declined to elaborate.

Day said the high bail was necessary because of Luster’s wealth and ties to friends and relatives around the world.

Although authorities confiscated Luster’s passport, Day said that during a search of Luster’s home, deputies found evidence suggesting that he hadtried to obtain a passport using a false name.

Authorities have characterized Luster as a sexual predator who used GHB to sexually assault women he met at clubs along Santa Barbara’s State Street, known for its stretch of popular bars.

During a search of Luster’s Mussel Shoals home July 18, investigators said they uncovered dozens of videotapes and photographs showing Luster having sex with comatose women.

Investigators said the photos, videotapes and calls from the public have uncovered 15 more possible victims, six of whom have been identified, and authorities are interviewing them.

Authorities said several attacks may have taken place outside California, while Luster vacationed in Las Vegas, Mexico and Arizona. And the assaults are said to have occurred as far back as 1992, the date listed on one videotape, according to court documents.

Investigators have reviewed about 200 videotapes found in Luster’s home. Dozens of the tapes showed Luster involved in sexual encounters with unconscious women, court documents said.

Sheriff’s Department spokesperson Eric Nishimoto said authorities are also getting calls daily from women saying they have been victims of Luster.

Luster was arrested July 18 after a 21-year-old woman reported the she and a male friend were slipped the drug after meeting Luster at a Santa Barbara bar. Both said it was unclear how they ended up at Luster’s home, but the woman said that while there she was given another drink by Luster that tasted odd. He reportedly told her the drink contained GHB.

She told authorities Luster sexually assaulted her through the night.

Authorities said an ex-girlfriend of Luster was also drugged and sexually assaulted on videotape.

The woman has said she had no idea Luster was taping sexual acts with her as she lay unconscious in his beachfront home.