October 5, 2007
Anand Jon Faces 59 Sexual Assault Charges
By Arun Kumar
Washington
India-born celebrity fashion designer Anand Jon has been indicted by
a US court to face 59 sexual assault charges involving at least 20
women, including would-be models.
A Los Angeles judge Thursday unsealed a 59-count indictment against
Anand Jon, 33, who was initially charged March 13, Los Angeles Times
reported. He is being held without bail. If convicted, he could face
life in prison.
Jon faces charges that include rape, lewd acts upon a child,
contributing to the delinquency of a minor, sexual battery by
restraint and attempted forcible oral copulation. Prosecutors said
two additional victims, bringing the total to 20, had come forward.
The victims are between the ages of 14 and 27, authorities said.
Seven are from California, and the others are from eight other US
states and two foreign countries, according to the indictment, which
was unsealed by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge David Wesley.
The Los Angeles Times quoted Anthony Brooklier, Jon's lawyer, as
saying the accusers had worked together to make the same accusation
against his client. "This is made up of whole cloth, this entire
case," he said. "We think there was collusion. We have e-mail
between them."
Some of the alleged victims continued to dine and work with Jon
after the initial accusations surfaced, he said, asking, "Why didn't
they call police?"
The investigation against Jon, who was featured as one of Newsweek
magazine's 'people to watch' in 2007 and who has designed clothes
for Paris Hilton, Mary J. Blige and other celebrities, was launched
in March after a woman said Jon had sexually assaulted her at his
Beverly Hills apartment.
More women came forward. Jon is under investigation in Dallas,
Houston, New York and Massachusetts.
The Beverly Hills designer, whose full name is Anand Jon Alexander,
graduated from the prestigious Parsons School of Design and launched
his own label at the New York Fashion Week in 1999. His website
claims he is the winner of various fashion awards, including a 2002
People's Choice "Best New Designer" prize.
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