Anand Jon Alexander (Los Angeles Times)
LOS ANGELES -- Fashion designer Anand Jon Alexander, who was convicted of 16 sex-related counts, was sentenced to 59 years to life in prison Monday.
The 35-year-old designer -- who was featured on the TV show "America's Next Top Model" was convicted Nov. 13 of charges including rape, lewd acts on a child and sexual battery involving the seven young women and teenage girls.
Alexander acted as his own attorney while seeking a new trial, claiming inadequate defense by his former attorneys, but the judge denied the request.
Prosecutors said Alexander often found women online, baited them with promises of glamorous photo shoots and other modeling work, only to fondle or rape them at his Beverly Hills apartment.
Beverly Hills police began investigating Alexander in March 2007 when a woman reported she had been sexually assaulted in his apartment.
During the trial, prosecutors relied heavily on the testimony from women who made the accusations against Alexander. Defense attorneys argued many of women were lying about what happened to them and sought revenge against Alexander when they didn't get modeling jobs.
He is under indictment in New York on similar charges involving nine women.
The 35-year-old designer -- who was featured on the TV show "America's Next Top Model" was convicted Nov. 13 of charges including rape, lewd acts on a child and sexual battery involving the seven young women and teenage girls.
Alexander acted as his own attorney while seeking a new trial, claiming inadequate defense by his former attorneys, but the judge denied the request.
Prosecutors said Alexander often found women online, baited them with promises of glamorous photo shoots and other modeling work, only to fondle or rape them at his Beverly Hills apartment.
Beverly Hills police began investigating Alexander in March 2007 when a woman reported she had been sexually assaulted in his apartment.
During the trial, prosecutors relied heavily on the testimony from women who made the accusations against Alexander. Defense attorneys argued many of women were lying about what happened to them and sought revenge against Alexander when they didn't get modeling jobs.
He is under indictment in New York on similar charges involving nine women.
