NY judge gives Anand Jon a break in serial sex assault case

New York, Oct 14 (ANI): Anand Jon, accused of rape and sexual abuse against several women including minors, got a break from a Manhattan court when the judge dismissed some of the charges against the Indian-American fashion designer.

The judge dismissed charges against Jon, by three of his accusers, on the recommendation from District Attorney's office, which will continue prosecuting Jon for the remaining alleged casting couch assaults, including forcible rape, on nine other accusers, many of them young fashion models.

Jon returns to Manhattan Supreme Court Dec. 8, to set a trial date.

The disgraced designer, meanwhile, continues serving a mandatory life sentence after his conviction on a slew of similar charges in California.e is appealing is conviction there on 16 counts of sex abuse, including forcible rape, involving women and girls ages 14 to 16.

"Mr. Anand Jon continues to insist he is innocent," the New York Post quoted New York lawyer, Adam Freedman, as saying.

The dismissed Manhattan charges involved women "who knew him longest," Freedman said. (ANI)