Designer gets five years

NEW YORK (AP):

An India-born fashion designer already serving 59 years to life in California for molesting would-be models was sentenced in New York yesterday to five years in a similar case in a courtroom full of his supporters who blew him kisses.

Anand Jon Alexander, 39, admitted to one count of criminal sexual act in February for sexually assaulting a woman he baited with the promise of modelling work. He was named a high-risk sex offender and sexually violent predator yesterday.

Outside court, his sister Sanjana Jon said she worked with him for years and she knows he is innocent.

"Anand Jon is innocent and he will prove it. The truth will come out," she said. "This is an innocent person who is being victimised."

Alexander had initially been charged with preying on a dozen women, but the figure then dropped to three. Prosecutors said some of the victims were minors, and some were drugged when he forced himself on them.

Some of the victims had already testified in the California case and Assistant District Attorney Maxine Rosenthal said prosecutors offered the plea deal so that the women wouldn't have to testify again and because he is already serving substantial prison time.