Fashion guru fights sex charges

Anand Jon Alexander, a celebrity fashion designer from India has been charged with sexual assault and rape involving two women and a 15-year-old girl in the U.S.


The 33-year-old, was charged with six felonies for the series of sexual assaults between October 2004 and March 5, according to a criminal complaint filed by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office.


The Indian-born designer, who goes by the name Anand Jon, was arrested at his Beverly Hills apartment March 6 after a woman alleged that he raped her.


The charges include forcible rape and lewd acts on a child, among other counts. If convicted, he faces a maximum of life in prison.


Considered an up-and-coming designer, Alexander has dressed celebrities such as Paris Hilton, Michelle Rodriguez and Mary JBlige and was profiled last December in Newsweek’s “Who’s Next for 2007” list of people to watch.


Jon’s attorney, Ronald Richards, denies all charges and suggests any sex that took place was consensual.


“He denies any illegal sexual acts took place with any of these people,” Richards told Newsweek.


On March 5, a woman listed in the complaint as Jessie B. told Beverly Hills sex-crimes detectives Jon had assaulted her the night of March 4.


The woman, who was visiting Jon from the Northwest, had met Jon through MySpace and the two had e-mailed back and forth for months, according to Richards, before Jon paid for her flight to Los Angeles.


Police investigated, and arrested Jon at his North Palm Drive apartment at 8:30 on the evening of March 6 on suspicion of rape.


They subsequently added sexual battery and attempted oral-copulation charges.


“Subsequent investigation revealed that there were at least three additional victims,” said Lt. Mitch McCann, spokesman for the Beverly Hills Police Department. Only two of those alleged victims are included in the current charges.


Prosecutors say Jon committed lewd acts on the 15-year-old female model on March 3 and 4 -- just a day before he allegedly had forcible sex with Jessie B.


And in October 2004, he allegedly raped a woman named Natalie P. who later complained to police in her home state.


The case was investigated, but no charges were filed at that time, says McCann, the Beverly Hills officer.


In another sexually related case early in the decade, Jon pleaded guilty to a reduced misdemeanor charge of disturbing the peace, says Richards, the attorney -- which netted Jon a three-year probation.


Richards admits Jon knew the three women but denies any sexual contact was illegal.


In the 2004 case, he says, the alleged victim had also met Jon online and had flown to L.A. at his suggestion. Months later, the woman complained to police in her home that she’d had forced sex with Jon, but the story was investigated and prosecutors declined to file charges.


Sanjana Jon, Anand Jon’s sister said, “…firmly believes in the innocence of my brother. I’ve worked along side him for many years and he always maintained a professional relationship with the workers, models and the volunteers.


 

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