A
Beverly Hills fashion designer has just been found guilty of
multiple counts of
sexual assault that could result in him receiving a lifetime prison sentence. Anand Jon
Alexander, 34, has been convicted of raping seven females, ranging in
age from 14 to 21 years old. These sexual crimes occurred over a six-year
span from 2002 to 2007.
While Alexander originally faced 23 felony charges, he was ultimately convicted
of 16 counts, including:
- Forcible rape
- Sexual assault
- Battery
In addition to being known for his role on “America’s Next Top Model,” Alexander is also credited with designing for many popular celebrities,
including Paris Hilton and Norah Jones.
The Trial and Evidence
Over two months of trial, prosecutors presented evidence of Alexander’s
criminal activities, which included:
- Beating and, in some cases, drugging women before he raped them.
- Tricking females into coming back to his apartment by claiming that he
wanted them to model for his clothing line.
As evidence, prosecutors (led by District Attorney Frances Young) called
on nine of the female victims to testify.
While Alexander’s high-priced criminal defense attorneys tried to
discredit the victims’ testimonies by claiming that they were lying
to defame the defendant, the consistencies of the victims’ statements
were enough to sway the jury and result in multiple convictions.
Sentencing and Further Trials
The sentencing phase of Alexander’s trial is scheduled to occur Jan.
13, 2009 at the Los Angeles Superior Courthouse.
However, Alexander’s recent convictions and pending sentencing in
California are only the start of a series of trials this convict will
face, as he has also been indicted in New York on nine other rape and
sexual assault charges.
Similarly, Texas authorities in the Dallas area are still investigating
allegations against Alexander. This investigation is also likely to result
in another trial for Alexander.
(Source: Los Angeles Times, The Herald Sun)
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