Leonard Levine

Anand Jon Tries to Fire Lawyers; Sister Plans Protest

Update: Judge David Wesley has granted a defense motion for a Monday hearing to permit Anand Jon to dismiss his attorneys and represent himself. Wesley indicated that he will allow Jon's request to act as his own attorney. See motion here: 582106569 (2).pdfAnand Jon, the Indian-born fashion designer ... More >>

Anand Jon Judge: No New Trial

After hearing both sides forcefully argue their cases for or against granting fashion designer Anand Jon a new trial this morning, Superior Court Judge David Wesley delivered his decision at 12:15 p.m.: The motion for a new trial is denied. Further, he has just cited Sanjana Jon Alexander and juror ... More >>

Tense Moments in Today's Anand Jon Courtroom

For 100 intense minutes this morning the defense and prosecutors involved in the Anand Jon trial argued to persuade Judge David Wesley on the motion to set aside Jon's first trial and order a new one. The defense motion has kept the fashion designer, who was convicted of 16 sex-related charges last ... More >>

D.A.'s Office: New Anand Jon Trial a 'Grave Mistake'

L.A. Daily has obtained a copy of the prosecution motion to be filed Monday, July 6, arguing against the granting of a new trial for fashion designer Anand Jon. The motion dismisses defense attorneys' claims that the spurned affections of one juror by Jon's sister, Sanjana, could have resulted in th ... More >>

Anand Jon: The Trial After the Trial

It's going to be July 6 now before the Anand Jon case lurches into its next hearing. I say Anand Jon"case" because the actual trial ended November 13, with the celebrity fashion designer's conviction on 15 counts of sexual assault and on one rape charge. By now any reader who's even accidentally stu ... More >>

New Trial Hearing for Anand Jon Under Way

Today was the day convicted fashion designer Anand Jon Alexander's defense presented to Judge David Wesley its case for a new trial. There is much at stake: The original proceedings resulted in Anand Jon, as the designer is known professionally, being convicted of 15 sexual assault charges and one ... More >>

Endgame: Anand Jon's Lawyers Fight for New Trial

One never knows what to expect when entering the madhouse that is the Anand Jon courtroom - known more formally in Superior Court directories as Department 102. Jon, the Indian-born fashion designer, was convicted of 15 counts of sexual assault and one rape charge last November. He was to be senten ... More >>

Judge Denies Anand Jon Recusal Bid, Sets New Trial Hearing

This morning Judge David Wesley heard arguments from Anand Jon defense lawyer Leonard Levine as to why the entire District Attorney's office should be recused from prosecuting a new trial that the fashion designer's attorneys are seeking -- as well as from investigating why a juror in Jon's trial ha ... More >>

Anand Jon's Post-Verdict Twilight Zone

The court afterlife of the Anand Jon trial -- a post-verdict twilight filled with sentencing hearings and new trial motions -- has now stretched out longer than the trial itself. That proceeding ran a mere two months before the Beverly Hills fashion designer was convicted of one count of rape and 15 ... More >>

Star-crossed at Starbucks: Strange Twist at Anand Jon Sentencing

Juror Furor: Anand Jon Case Takes Troubling Twist

Call it the extension of March Madness by other means. Those of us reporting on the post-trial hearings of the Anand Jon case have known for more than a month that today would be the date of a hearing regarding explosive charges that the District Attorney's office had thwarted a January 7 meeting be ... More >>

Anand Jon Verdicts: Guilty, Guilty, Guilty . . .

Victors: Deputy D.A.s Mara McIlvain (l.) and Frances Young (c.) At 11:45 a.m. today Judge David Wesley’s clerk began reading the jury verdicts Wesley had just unsealed, perused and approved. The tension in the packed courtroom had been oppressive since Department 102’s doors opened. Prosecuto ... More >>

Anand Jon Trial Alert: Partial Verdicts Reached

At 2:40 p.m. this afternoon the district attorney’s office issued the following statement: “The jury has announced that they have reached partial verdicts in the Anand Jon Alexander case. Judge Wesley told jurors to keep deliberating and that he will read the verdicts at 3 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 1 ... More >>

Anand Jon's Defense Begins - Sort Of

The prosecution rested its case in chief today against fashion designer Anand Jon, who is charged with multiple sexual assaults against nine girls and young women between 2001 and 2007. The end came not with a bang but with the whimper of DNA testimony, provided by Sheriff’s Department senior crim ... More >>

The Strange and Disturbing Trial of Anand Jon

What we talk about when we talk about rape

Goddesses & Doormats: Anand Jon’s Rape Trial Begins

“I am my own god and I get whatever I want,” fashion designer Anand Jon is quoted in court documents as telling one of his alleged rape victims. Another girl was a 16-year-old virgin and home-schooled Mormon who, in 2003, was taking her first tentative step into secular society. She claims Jon, ... More >>

Fashion Victim: Anand Jon

Will celebrity designer be in stripes for the rest of his life?

Anand Jon Rape Trial Nears

A semen-stained comforter, a tampon and a camera. These were some of the items listed on a Beverly Hills P.D. search warrant when officers raided fashion designer Anand Jon's pad in March, 2007. Later that year Jon was charged with a list of offenses more often associated with spring break at Lake H ... More >>

Rocky Road

Suit tarnishes city attorney�s polished image