30 Of 59 Rape Charges Dropped Against Indian-Born Designer

August 28, 2008

Los Angeles prosecutors have dropped 30 of 59 sexual abuse charges against Indian-born celebrity fashion designer Anand Jon Alexander, as jury selection got under way for his trial in California.

The 29 charges Alexander will be facing in court are related to "the victims that prosecutors are electing to proceed with at this time," said Jane Robison, a spokeswoman for the district attorney's office.

Without explaining further, Robison said lawyers for the remaining alleged victims were free to reinstate their charges during the upcoming trial.

Alexander, 34, had been charged in California with 59 counts of sexually assaulting 20 women aged 14-27 between 2002-2007.

Arrested on March 6, 2007, Alexander is charged with a variety of crimes, including forcible rape, sexual battery by restraint and lewd acts upon a child.

Prosecutors have accused Alexander of setting up a fashion design studio in Beverly Hills to lure models and sexually assault them. The charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison.

The New York-based designer, who is also being investigated in Texas and Massachusetts, pleaded not guilty at a hearing in California in April.

His lawyer Ronald Richards said at the time that all the charges against his client were brought by models whom Alexander had turned down for jobs after having consensual sexual relations with them.

Alexander was free on a 1.3 million dollar bail until June, when a California judge increased the bail amount by 500,000 dollars after Texas issued its own indictment against the fashion designer.

Alexander graduated from the prestigious Parsons School of Design and launched his own label at New York Fashion Week in 1999.

He is reported to have dressed celebrities such as Hilton hotel heiresses Paris and Nicky Hilton, Mary J. Blige and Norah Jones.

According to Alexander's website, he is the winner of various fashion awards including a 2002 People's Choice "Best New Designer" prize.