Thursday, July 27, 2000 | 11:15 a.m.
An heir to the Max Factor cosmetics fortune accused of sexually assaulting women in California is suspected of also attacking women in Las Vegas, authorities said.
Andrew Stuart Luster, 36, was held in a Ventura, Calif., jail this morning on $10 million bail facing 40 charges in connection to three sexual assaults of women police say were rendered helpless by GHB -- commonly known as the date-rape drug -- and videotaped. Luster was arrested July 19 by the Ventura County Sheriff's Office.
"The videotapes show him having sex with unconscious victims," said Sgt. Chris Carroll of Metro Police's sexual assault unit. "There were also videotapes of him being in (Las Vegas) casinos."
Luster apparently frequently traveled to Las Vegas visiting hotel-casinos and topless bars leading police to suspect some attacks may have occurred here.
"The videotape of assaults were in the same series of tapes that show him in casinos so there is a good likelihood that there are victims here," Carroll said. "We would like any victim to come forward and contact us."
There are videos of women who detectives have not been able to identify or contact, police said.
Historically some victims of sexual assaults don't come forward because they feel humiliated or don't want others to discover they were victims.
"It's probably more so in this situation than others because of the notoriety (of the suspect). They don't want their mom in Kansas to know about this or the people they went to high school with," said Renata Cirri, executive director of Community Action Against Rape in Las Vegas.
"Many victims feel, erroneously, that they did something to make this happen," she said. "We know that they have done nothing to be ashamed of and it's not their fault."
Cirri said her group helps victims through the entire process of going to the police -- if they want to report the assault -- and through the trial of the suspects.
"We're with them every step of the way," she said.
Cirri said some victims may not even know they were assaulted if they were drugged with GHB -- gamma hydroxybutyrate -- which is odorless and colorless.
California prosecutors argued Wednesday for no bail by portraying Luster as a sexual predator with victims around the globe.
The judge apparently agreed, raising Luster's bail from $1 million to $10 million Wednesday.
"There is no question Mr. Luster is a clear and present danger to women," Superior Court Judge Art Gutierrez was quoted in the Los Angeles Times. "I am satisfied the defendant is a threat."
Prosecutors also argued that Luster poses a flight risk because of his family's assets. A copy of a financial statement indicating that Luster has $8 million invested in a stock portfolio was filed, the Times reported.
Luster's attorney said his client doesn't have access to the money.
Luster was arrested last week after a Santa Barbara, Calif., woman claimed he slipped her a date-rape drug after she met him at a bar. The woman said she was sexually assaulted July 15 at Luster's home. Two other women who claim they were sexually assaulted by Luster have since come forward.
Police found several bottles of an unknown liquid, cocaine, guns, and numerous photos and videotapes of other potential victims when they searched Luster's home, poAnyone who has had contact with Luster is asked to call Metro's sexual assault unit at 229-3421 or Community Action Against Rape at 366-1640.
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