High-profile fashion designer Anand Jon, who was featured on a 2003 episode of America’s Next Top Model and was profiled in Newsweek as one of 20 up-and-comers in 2006, was extradited Friday to New York City, where he was charged with molesting at least nine female victims in the state.
The Associated Press and The Hindu report that these latest charges – rape, criminal sexual acts, promoting a sexual performance by a child and an alleged attack on a minor – occurred between 2002 and 2006.
According to the charges, Jon drugged at least two women so he could take advantage of them, and told one teenager he would “hurt her if she reported her rape to authorities.”
The India-born celebrity designer, who has worked with such big names as Paris Hilton, Janet Jackson and Mary J. Blige, entered a “not guilty” plea in a Manhattan courtroom; he is due back in court on Feb. 17.
Jon is currently serving 59 years to life in California stemming from a 2008 case in which he sexually assaulted 7 girls and women by promising modelling jobs.
He maintained his innocence throughout that trial, saying that the women were lying about the assaults as revenge for not getting modelling gigs.
Cycle 14 of America’s Next Top Model debuts Wednesday, March 3, at 8 p.m. ET, Citytv/CW.
greg@tvguide.ca
Follow Greg on Twitter
