Designer Anand Jon pleads not guilty to new rape charges

Fallen fashion designer Anand Jon Alexander was charged Friday with molesting at least nine victims some drugged in a new case that echoes crimes that already sent him to prison.

Fallen fashion designer Anand Jon Alexander was charged Friday with molesting at least nine victims some drugged in a new case that echoes crimes that already sent him to prison. The one-time rising design star, known professionally as Anand Jon, said nothing but "not guilty" as he was arraigned in a New York court on a raft of rape and other charges dating to 2002. At least two victims were minors, prosecutors said.

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Alexander was convicted in Los Angeles in 2008 of sexually assaulting seven girls and women, some of them aspiring models lured with promises of jobs. The victims were as young as 14. The India-born Alexander launched a fashion line in 1999. He was featured on "America's Next Top Model" and worked with such celebrities as Paris Hilton before the charges surfaced against him. Alexander's lawyer, Adam Freedman, said he was new to the case and couldn't shed more light on the new allegations. Alexander maintained his innocence throughout the California case. His lawyers argued many of women were lying about what happened to them and sought revenge against Alexander when they didn't get modeling jobs.

He was sentenced to 59 years to life in prison, and Los Angeles prosecutors said there were similar allegations in New York.