Designer Anand Jon Sentenced to 59 Years to Life in Prison for Sexual Assault
Filed under: News
Fashion designer Anand Jon Alexander breaks down in an LA courtroom today during his sentencing. Photo: Getty Images
As we reported earlier, the 35-year-old India-born designer was found guilty of 16 sex crimes in November, including forcible rape and sexual battery. His victims were between 14 and 21 years old.
For today's sentencing at a Los Angeles courthouse, Alexander represented himself, after ditching his defense team in July. At one point, the designer (who was once featured on "America's Next Top Model") broke down in tears while asking the judge for a new trial.
Nine of Alexander's victims also spoke at the trial.
Alexander still has to face allegations of sexual assault in New York and Texas.
molly 9-01-2009 @ 8:52AM
wow...this guy can now start designing prison-wear. Sad story. Poor young victims. This guy was just becoming known in fashion circles...now his life is all sewn up and he becomes his own fashion victim. Justice served.
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seekmm05 9-01-2009 @ 2:13PM
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Leon 9-01-2009 @ 3:11PM
ROFL! "Next down the runway comes the marvelous Marcello, sporting a chic velvet-coated ball-and-chain and, what's this? A jewel-encrusted shank, ladies and gentlemen!..."
Simzee 9-01-2009 @ 4:10PM
Designing prison wear? Do you really think he'll have the time? IMAO
Debera 9-01-2009 @ 9:38AM
This couldn't make our society happier. Justice in served enough said.
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Meka 9-01-2009 @ 9:37AM
I hope that this is an eye opener for every man rich or poor, that you can't rape or molest women/girls and think that you're going to get away with it because you have money. Do the crime, do the time and just imagine how those young girls broke down and cried when you took something much more precious from them. So save those alligator tears for your new cell mate.
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Gina 9-01-2009 @ 9:55AM
So...because they did not get modeling contracts they were angry and therefore told on him out of anger. When they thought they were going to be famous, they were willing participants in the sex. There is always two sides to every story. I am not defending him but why get yourself in the situation in the first place. How about, no I am not going to sleep with you for a modeling contract. And him, no I am not going to sleep with an underaged girl eventhough she looks 21.
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RH 9-01-2009 @ 11:23AM
I liked your comment. Very well said. Hindsight is 20/20.
GingerRoot 9-01-2009 @ 12:51PM
Promises of a modeling contract or not. A 14 year old cannot legally consent to sex with a 30-something man. PERIOD.
And regardless of looks, most people in the fashion industry are very much aware that a good deal of the models are underage. There's no way he made a mistake several times over.
That said a couple of allegations may equal anger on behalf of the women. But multiple women in 2 or 3 different states equals a predator.
Abe 9-01-2009 @ 3:19PM
Out of most of the comments, yours is the really sane voice. I agree with you.
Sandy 9-01-2009 @ 3:46PM
Did you read the charges? Forcible sodimy and rape, with girls as young as 14. It's people like you that make rape and sodimy victims unwilling to speak up.
Miranda 9-01-2009 @ 3:55PM
And what of the counts of "forcible rape and sexual battery" that the article says he's being charged with? I wouldn't call that consensual sex.
Just because these women are aspiring models, it doesn't mean that they have to fit the stereotype of a girl willing to do anything to be a rich and famous supermodel.
You said there's 2 sides to a story, so perhaps we should actually learn his side before making assumptions about him and the victims. They could have just as easily been lured to a private place with the promise of a modelling job and been raped.
headstrong 9-01-2009 @ 4:23PM
Very wrong-headed of you to blame the victims when there are multiple accusers. If it was just one, then it's a he said/she said and who's to say if the girl was willing or even the initiator. In this case, though, it's pretty clear that this guy is a sick sexual predator. Even if every one of the girls was willing, considering the ages, it still makes him a sick sexual predator, a pedophile to be exact. Are you really willing to say that he shouldn't go to jail for his full term even if the only charge was the pedophilia?
gonzo1 9-01-2009 @ 7:35PM
here, here ; gina you are the first woman i've come across that looks at these sorts of allegations fairly and not sexist , because YES women can also be sexist . as well as vindictive . a double standard also exsists as far a sexual harrassment goes , as well as the sex with minors issue . men having sex with under-age partners get very long prison sentences as well as being charged with rape ; whereas women get off light by comparision and are NEVER called rapists.
Magie331 9-01-2009 @ 10:01AM
We should have more judges like this one .. That would keep a lot of perverts off the street
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atljw1 9-01-2009 @ 10:21AM
anand jon you nasty bugger! You did not believe in a higher power, there fore you gave into your desires to take something that did not belong to you, you tormented human beings! You gave them a life long memory and now you have a life long sentence.Kudos for the judge who handed out the sentence.It"s about time people are given there just due. Hope it's a lessen learned.I have no idea what you put those young adults through but i know what i went through and your time will never erase their pain but it will prevent you from devouring another! Now pack your bags and go recieve what you were giving out. How they say eye for eye ;oh okay!
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Julie 9-01-2009 @ 5:12PM
"You did not believe in a higher power, there fore you gave into your desires to take something that did not belong to you, you tormented human beings!"
To be fair, I don't understand what believing in a higher power has to do with it. (And how do you know what his beliefs are?) How can you say that when there are holymen constantly getting in trouble for raping young boys, or marrying underage girls to much older men? I'm 100% against what this man did, but beliefs of a "higher power" have absolutely nothing to do with it!
Lulu 9-06-2009 @ 12:59PM
He's the tip of the iceberg. This should be a wake-up call for the rest of the predators in and especially, around the modelling business.
Hallelujah!!!
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Vince 9-01-2009 @ 10:31AM
It's really surprising, this guy had the audacity to believe he could commit these heinous acts and not pay for them at some point in his lifetime. It's a shame about his life being destroyed, but much more tragic what damage he has done to the young children left in his wake.
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greg 9-01-2009 @ 10:23AM
maybe he can design prison wear with "easy access" for his new cell mate...
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