Max Factor heir resentenced to 50 years in rapes

An heir to the Max Factor fortune who was convicted of drugging and raping three women was resentenced Tuesday to a reduced 50-year term by a judge who earlier threw out an original sentence of 124 years, AP reported.

Andrew Luster, 49, who has been in prison for a decade, was resentenced by Superior Court Judge Kathryne Ann Stoltz, the Ventura County Star reported.

Luster cried in the courtroom and said he was "incredibly grateful" for the resentencing.

Under the new sentence, he'll be eligible for parole in 15 years, prosecutors said.

The defense had sought a sentence of 25 years or less.

Luster's lawyers Jay Leiderman and J. David Nick said in court documents that Luster is not a sexual predator and has had a "stellar performance" in prison.

Prosecutors argued in a sentencing memorandum filed last week that Luster's sentence was appropriate, but the original court's reasoning needed to be explained.

On Tuesday, Deputy District Attorney Michelle Contois called Luster's crimes "cruel, vicious and callous."

Last month, the judge refused a request to throw out Luster's conviction but granted him a resentencing hearing, writing in her ruling that the court "failed to state specific reasons for imposing full consecutive sentences" as the law requires.

He jumped his $1 million bond and fled while on trial in early 2003.