US-Indian designer gets jail term

Anand Jon was arrested in 2007

A celebrity fashion designer in the US has been sentenced to a minimum of 59 years in prison for sexually assaulting aspiring models as young as 14.

Indian-born Anand Jon Alexander, who is well-known in Hollywood, was arrested in 2007 and convicted last November.

He has denied the charges and always maintained that he is innocent.

Anand Jon specialises in clothes that blend eastern and western designs and has run his own fashion line in the US since the late 1990s.

He has dressed a number of celebrities including Paris Hilton and Mary J Blige.

'No remorse'

Superior Court Judge David Wesley said he should be incarcerated as long as possible for preying upon young girls and women.

"Mr Alexander has showed no remorse for his actions," the judge said.

The designer was arrested in March 2007 after a woman alleged he had raped her.

After his arrest, five more women, ranging in age from 14 to 23, came forward claiming they too were sexually assaulted.

In all he faced 33 charges, including rape and committing a lewd act on a child.

Anand Jon denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to all the charges. His lawyer said some of the women had come forward because they were disgruntled models who had failed in the fashion industry.

He said they were looking for an opportunity to capitalise on the fashion designer's troubles.

On 14 November last year, Anand Jon was convicted on 14 counts, including rape.

He was found not guilty of four felonies, and jurors could not reach a verdict on three counts.