Celebrity Designer Charged with Rape

Anand Jon is a celebrity designer who is friends with party girl and heiress Paris Hilton, Paula Abdul and actor Michelle Rodriguez. Anand was accused of assault and rape of three victims and police have said that they are looking into the charges of fourth victim.

The youngest accuser is just 15 years old and Anand's lawyer claims that the girl lied about her age. Richards have accused the 15 year old of saying that she was 17 and claims that a tape exists in which she claimed to have been 18 years old. Jon's attorney also says that these women are models who are upset because Anand Jon did not put them in his fashion shows after sleeping with them, so they brought fraudulent charges against him.

"In these cases, what is going on here is these girls fly in for model jobs after months of dialogue filled with flirtation, they have sexual interaction and if he doesn't put them in the show ... then some time later they claim they had unwanted sex," said Anand's attorney, Ronald Richards.

The first charge against Anand Jon was brought in 2004 but at that time prosecutors declined to charge him with anything. Now they have decided to add the first charge to all of the other rape and assault claims. The 15 year old girl has said that she was assaulted on March 3 and March 4 and another victim has said that he also raped her on March 6.

Designer Anand Jon is being held on $1.3 million dollars bail and it is unclear if he is able to come up with the money. In the meantime Anand Jon is charged with six felonies, one misdemeanor charge and the Beverly Hills police department has alerted immigration, who has placed a hold on Anand.

Police have also said that they arrested Ananda Jon and later found evidence that lead them to what they believe to be more victims.

Anand Jon graduated from Parsons School of Design in 1998 and quickly went on to create his first fashion line in the spring of 1999. Anand has been featured on television shows such as America's Next Top Model and was also seen on MTV.

Jon has been featured in W, New York Times, In Style, and Vogue magazines. It was mentioned in Newsweek that the public should keep an eye on this designer because 2007 would be his year. Anand's designs tend to have his Indian culture mixed with American culture and has been a big hit at fashion shows.

Sources:
http://www.tmz.com/2007/03/13/celebrity-designer-arrested-on-rape-charges/
http://www.fresnobee.com/384/story/35141.html