Heir to Max Factor fortune convicted of rape

A JURY in the US has convicted the fugitive heir to the Max Factor cosmetics fortune on charges of raping three women and drugging two of them at his beach house.

Andrew Luster, who fled in the middle of his trial while under house arrest, was found guilty yesterday of 86 counts that included rape, sodomy, drug and weapons possession and poisoning. The jury in Ventura, California, were deadlocked on one count of poisoning one of the victims.

The conviction could put Luster, the 39-year-old great-grandson of Max Factor, in prison for life if he is captured.

Prosecutors said Luster took the three women to his California home in 1996, 1997 and 2000 and raped them after drugging them with gamma hydroxybutyrate, also known as GHB and liquid Ecstasy.

Luster was arrested in 2000 after a 21-year-old college student told police he had drugged and assaulted her.

During a search of his home, authorities said they found videotapes of Luster apparently having sex with sleeping or unconscious women. Two women in the tapes testified at trial that they willingly took drinks laced with GHB from Luster but never consented to sex.

Luster fled on January 3, during a recess in the trial.