An Indian-born fashion designer who has dressed celebrities including
Paris Hilton has been charged with rape and a string of sex offences, authorities in Los Angeles said Wednesday.
http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/afp/...JdMecdk1BMEg--
Anand Jon, 33, who has appeared regularly on US television show "America's Next Top Model," was charged with six sexual assaults between October 2004 and March 5, according to charges from the city district attorney's office.
The New York-based designer was arrested in Beverly Hills on March 6 and is being held in custody at the Los Angeles Men's Central Jail, the local sheriff's office said, with bail set at 3.65 million dollars.
The charges relate to assaults allegedly carried out on three people -- two women and a 15-year-old girl -- but detectives told the Los Angeles Times police were investigating allegations involving a possible fourth victim.
Jon's attorney, Ronald Richards was not immediately available for comment but told The Times the allegations had been invented by models holding a grudge against the designer.
"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," Richards told the newspaper.
Richards said the 15-year-old alleged victim initially told police she was 17 and had said on film she was 18. "She lied about her age," he said.
Jon graduated from the prestigious Parsons School of Design and launched his own label at New York Fashion Week in 1999.
He is reported to have dressed celebrity socialites such as Paris and Nicky Hilton, Mary J. Blige and Norah Jones.
Indian-born fashion designer charged with rape 
