Designer Anand Jon Sentenced to a Minimum of 59 Years
Clothing designer Anand Jon Alexander was sentenced to 59 years to life in prison for his November 2008 conviction of raping and sexually assaulting seven female victims ranging in age from 14 to 21.
On Aug. 31, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge David Wesley sentenced Alexander, who goes by Anand Jon in the trade, while denying Alexander’s motions for a new trial. The designer previously fired his legal team and chose to represent himself.
Alexander was sentenced after three of 13 alleged victims (not all of whom were included in the criminal complaint) came to court to give emotional statements to the judge.
The 35-year-old designer was found guilty of 14 felony and two misdemeanor counts. Prosecutors Frances Young and Mara McIlvain of the Sex Crimes Division of the District Attorney’s office said they were pleased with the sentence and proud of the young victims who had the courage to come forward.
Alexander set up a fashion design business and used that and the Internet to lure would-be models to Los Angeles. Beverly Hills police launched an investigation in March 2007, on the eve of his Los Angeles Fashion Week debut, after a woman reported she was sexually assaulted by Alexander at his Beverly Hills apartment.
The jury of six men and six women found Alexander guilty of one count of rape, two counts of sexual penetration by a foreign object, one count of using a minor for sexual acts, seven counts of lewd act on a child, two counts of sexual battery, one count of attempted oral copulation, one count of possession of child pornography and one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The assaults occurred between 2001 and 2007.
He is facing extradition to New York and Texas in separate cases filed in those states. —Robert McAllister
