Designer gets 5 years jail for molesting model in NY
Source: Agencies |
April 4, 2013, Thursday
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AN Indian-born fashion designer already serving 59 years to life in California for molesting would-be models has been sentenced in New York to five years in a similar case.
Anand Jon Alexander, 39, admitted to one count of criminal sexual act in February for sexually assaulting a woman he baited with the promise of modeling work.
He was named a high-risk sex offender and sexually violent predator on Tuesday.
Outside court, his sister Sanjana Jon said she worked with him for years and she knows he's innocent. "Anand Jon is innocent and he will prove it. The truth will come out," she said. "This is an innocent person who is being victimized."
Alexander had initially been charged with preying on a dozen women, but the figure then dropped to three. Prosecutors said some of the victims were minors, and some were drugged when he forced himself on them.
Some of the victims had already testified in the California case and Assistant District Attorney Maxine Rosenthal said prosecutors offered the plea deal so that the women wouldn't have to testify again and because he is already serving substantial prison time.
She said the victims were OK with the plea deal. "They were satisfied due to the length of the sentence in California," Rosenthal said.
He was transferred from a California prison to New York during the case. His prison time in New York amounts to time served, so no years will be tacked onto his California sentence, Alexander's attorney said.
Alexander, who wore a form-fitting gray suit and pink shirt with a vest, disputed the reason for the deal in court but didn't elaborate.
"Whatever their reasons for offering the plea were, my reasons were different," he said. Alexander's attorney said that he admitted to the crime so he could get evidence and materials from New York prosecutors needed to help overturn his conviction in California.
Judge Cassandra Mullen had to ask Alexander several times if he had anything to say about his sentencing. He finally replied: "I'd like to thank everyone for being here."
He did not apologize to the victim, a common occurrence at sentencings.
Born in India, Alexander, known professionally as Anand Jon, launched a fashion line in 1999 and built it into a high-flying career. He was featured on "America's Next Top Model," worked with such celebrities as Paris Hilton and Mary J. Blige and was among 20 people profiled by Newsweek in 2006 as up-and-coming players in various industries.
Then, in 2007, sex assault allegations against Alexander began surfacing. He was convicted in Los Angeles the next year of sexually assaulting seven women and girls, some as young as 14.
Anand Jon Alexander, 39, admitted to one count of criminal sexual act in February for sexually assaulting a woman he baited with the promise of modeling work.
He was named a high-risk sex offender and sexually violent predator on Tuesday.
Outside court, his sister Sanjana Jon said she worked with him for years and she knows he's innocent. "Anand Jon is innocent and he will prove it. The truth will come out," she said. "This is an innocent person who is being victimized."
Alexander had initially been charged with preying on a dozen women, but the figure then dropped to three. Prosecutors said some of the victims were minors, and some were drugged when he forced himself on them.
Some of the victims had already testified in the California case and Assistant District Attorney Maxine Rosenthal said prosecutors offered the plea deal so that the women wouldn't have to testify again and because he is already serving substantial prison time.
She said the victims were OK with the plea deal. "They were satisfied due to the length of the sentence in California," Rosenthal said.
He was transferred from a California prison to New York during the case. His prison time in New York amounts to time served, so no years will be tacked onto his California sentence, Alexander's attorney said.
Alexander, who wore a form-fitting gray suit and pink shirt with a vest, disputed the reason for the deal in court but didn't elaborate.
"Whatever their reasons for offering the plea were, my reasons were different," he said. Alexander's attorney said that he admitted to the crime so he could get evidence and materials from New York prosecutors needed to help overturn his conviction in California.
Judge Cassandra Mullen had to ask Alexander several times if he had anything to say about his sentencing. He finally replied: "I'd like to thank everyone for being here."
He did not apologize to the victim, a common occurrence at sentencings.
Born in India, Alexander, known professionally as Anand Jon, launched a fashion line in 1999 and built it into a high-flying career. He was featured on "America's Next Top Model," worked with such celebrities as Paris Hilton and Mary J. Blige and was among 20 people profiled by Newsweek in 2006 as up-and-coming players in various industries.
Then, in 2007, sex assault allegations against Alexander began surfacing. He was convicted in Los Angeles the next year of sexually assaulting seven women and girls, some as young as 14.
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