Man Held on Suspicion of Sedating, Assaulting Woman

A Mussel Shoals man has been arrested on suspicion of repeatedly sexually assaulting a Santa Barbara woman in his home over the weekend after sedating her with a date-rape drug.

Andrew Luster, 36, was taken into custody at his home in the 6200 block of Ocean Avenue early Tuesday evening after the 21-year-old woman reported the assault to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department.

While searching his home, authorities said, they found a number of photographs and homemade videos of sedated or unconscious women they suspect are victims of assault by Luster.

The Sheriff’s Department, working with law enforcement officials from the city and county of Santa Barbara, also seized cocaine and vials of an unknown liquid that authorities suspect is the date-rape drug known as GHB or gamma hydroxybutrate.

After meeting Luster in a Santa Barbara bar last Friday, the woman told authorities, she went to his home where he served her an alcoholic beverage he later claimed had been spiked with Liquid X, a slang term for GHB.

The drug, also known as liquid ecstasy, is a powerful tranquilizer that can render assault victims incapable of resisting an attack.

If a victim has been drinking, GHB can be even more powerful, resulting in blackouts and a limited ability to recall an assault.

The woman also told authorities that she and a male companion had met Luster in an unnamed bar, where they consumed drinks he offered them.

Neither the woman nor her friend remembers leaving the bar or getting into Luster’s vehicle, authorities said. Luster allegedly drove them to his home and then allegedly sexually assaulted the woman.

The woman said Luster then served her another drink. When she complained of side-effects, Luster told her he had put Liquid X in the drink, authorities said.

He then allegedly sexually assaulted her repeatedly over the course of the night and into the early morning hours of Saturday, authorities said.

A sheriff’s spokesman declined to provide any information about the woman’s male companion.

Although the woman doesn’t recall everything that happened, spokesman Eric Nishimoto said, she remembers enough to justify the arrest.

Investigators are working to identify the other women in the photographs and videos seized from Luster’s home. Authorities have released photographs of Luster and are encouraging people who suspect he assaulted them to contact the department’s Major Crimes Investigative Bureau at (805) 654-2340.

Authorities said Luster is a frequent patron of bars in both Isla Vista near the UCSB campus and at establishments along State Street in Santa Barbara.

He is being held without bail at the Ventura County Jail on charges that include kidnapping and sexual assault, and charges under statutes that carry heightened penalties for assaulting victims under the influence of date-rape drugs.