INDIAN-AMERICAN celebrity fashion designer Anand Jon Alexander has pleaded guilty in New York City to molesting a woman he baited with the promise of modelling work.
Jon admitted to one count of criminal sexual act on Thursday (February 14). He was sentenced to five years in prison under a plea deal reached with federal prosecutors.
He already was convicted in California of similar charges and was sentenced to 59 years to life.
The Kerala-born designer was arrested in 2007 in California on charges he preyed upon seven young aspiring
models, some as young as 14 and sexually assaulted them.
Jon was featured on America’s Next Top Model and has worked with such celebrities as Paris Hilton and Mary J Blige.His designs have been worn by media mogul Oprah Winfrey and singer Janet Jackson.
Assistant District Attorney Maxine Rosenthal told a judge that the deal was accepted ‘to spare the victims from having to testify at multiple proceedings’ and in consideration of his lengthy sentence in California.
Rosenthal said Jonis facing similar charges in Texas.
The New York prison time amounts to time served, so his attorney says no years will be tacked onto his California sentence.
Jon’s attorney said after the plea that he admitted to the crime so that he could get evidence and materials from New York prosecutors needed to ‘effectively overturn his California conviction’.
‘Considering the initial 49 charges included allegations of rape, drugging and mafia death threats, the settlement of one conviction involving Alexander’s giving oral sex to an adult female was acceptable,’ they said in a statement.
They said some of the materials turned over by Manhattan prosecutors as part of the pre-trial process would be crucial as he continues work on his California appeal.
