39 Year old Anand Jon Alexander, a fashion designer already serving 59
years to life in California for molesting would-be models was sentenced
in New York on Tuesday to five years in a similar case in a courtroom
full of his supporters who blew him kisses.
According to Yahoo.com
Anand admitted to one count of criminal sexual act
in February for sexually assaulting a woman he baited with the promise
of modeling work. He was named a high-risk sex offender and sexually
violent predator Tuesday.
Alexander had initially been charged with preying on a dozen women,
but the figure then dropped to three. Prosecutors said some of the
victims were minors, and some were drugged when he forced himself on
them.
Some of the victims had already testified in the California case and
Assistant District Attorney Maxine Rosenthal said prosecutors offered
the plea deal so that the women wouldn't have to testify again and
because he is already serving substantial prison time.
She said the victims were OK with the plea deal. "They were satisfied
due to the length of the sentence in California," Rosenthal said.
He was transferred from a California prison to New York during the
case. His prison time in New York amounts to time served, so no years
will be tacked onto his California sentence, Alexander's attorney said.
Alexander, who wore a form-fitting gray suit and pink shirt with a
vest, disputed the reason for the deal in court but didn't elaborate.
"Whatever their reasons for offering the plea were, my reasons were
different," he said. Alexander's attorney said that he admitted to the
crime so he could get evidence and materials from New York prosecutors
needed to help overturn his conviction in California.
Judge Cassandra Mullen had to ask Alexander several times if he had
anything to say about his sentencing. He finally replied: "I'd like to
thank everyone for being here."
He did not apologize to the victim, a common occurrence at sentencings.
Born in India, Alexander — known professionally as Anand Jon —
launched a fashion line in 1999 and built it into a high-flying career.
He was featured on "America's Next Top Model," worked with such
celebrities as Paris Hilton and Mary J. Blige and was among 20 people
profiled by Newsweek in 2006 as up-and-coming players in various
industries.
Then, in 2007, sex assault allegations against Alexander began
surfacing. He was convicted in Los Angeles the next year of sexually
assaulting seven women and girls, some as young as 14. An appeals court
affirmed the conviction in 2012. His lawyers are working on filing a
petition before a higher court.
The New York courtroom was full of supporters who traveled from India
and California and wore white T-shirts that had a photo on them and
read "Free Anand Jon." As Alexander was led away, he turned and smiled
broadly at them. Some blew kisses.
His mother, Shashi Abraham, implored the public to look closely at
the facts of the case. "People do believe in his innocence. Look at how
many people are here supporting him, from all over," she said.
Outside court, men hung a banner that read "Free Anand Jon" to a fence near the courthouse.
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