Celeb designer Anand Jon: guilty of rape

Anand Jon, the Indian-born fashion designer who has dressed celebutante Paris Hilton and singer Janet Jackson (big photo gallery on his still-live web site) faced a jury on multiple charges of sexual assault on would-be models. Here's ABC news:

Fashion designer Anand Jon Alexander was convicted Thursday of sexually assaulting girls and women, some of them aspiring models who authorities say were lured to Los Angeles with rarely fulfilled promises of jobs and stays at luxury hotels.

After nearly two weeks of deliberation, a jury found the 34-year-old designer guilty of 20 of 23 counts, including forcible rape and committing a lewd act upon a child. Authorities say Alexander's seven victims ranged in age from 14 to 21.

Also from Reuters and the LA Times.

--Veronique de Turenne