Thaindian News

New York, Jan 30 (ANI): Fashion designer Anand Jon Alexander was brought to a Manhattan court yesterday to face accusations of sexual assaults against 12 young women and girls.

Jon, 36, is already serving 59 years to life in a California prison for sex assaults on seven other girls. According to authorities in Dallas he has still more crimes to his name.

Law enforcement officials say his New York victims were aged 15 to 26. Jon would invite them to New York from across the US after seeing their pictures online. He would tell them “You’re gorgeous,” and that he wanted them to model in his fashion line.

In the court, Jon pleaded “Not guilty”. He was wearing a prison-issued beige pair of cargo pants and a white t-shirt.

Jon will be held here for the duration of a possible trial on the Manhattan charges, which include forcible sodomy and rape, carrying maximum sentences of 25 years to life in prison, reports the New York Post.

California authorities have made it clear that that any sentences he earns elsewhere must be served after he completes his West Coast time.

Jon’s allegedly assaulted women between 2002 and 2006, and targeted young aspiring models. His youngest California victim was 14.

Before he was taken into custody in 2007, Jon was named by Newsweek mag as an up-and-coming fashion star.

Jon, whose Indian-inspired frocks have been donned by Paris Hilton, Oprah and Janet Jackson, also appeared as a guest designer on the TV reality show, “America’s Next Top Model.” (ANI)