Anand Jon case: Social verdict or Racial Verdict!
The Anand Jon case seems to possess a touch of bias against the brown skinned fashion designer. Even though the case involved accusations of rape and minor abuse, the resultant sentence of 59 years in jail seems to be a bit harsh.
THE CASE of the Indian born US designer Anand Jon, who was sentenced to spend 59 years of his life in jail by a California Court, has raised many eyebrows over the manner in which the verdict was delivered in that country. But, the question that crops up in many minds is that the US and the western countries have been known for its liberal culture as far as gender and sex is concerned and it hasn't been a matter of controversy as huge as Anand Jon's case.
Pre-marital sex or relationships are treated as a casual component of the society unlike India where people still find these as a source of hidden gossip or even a taboo. People can lock their lips publicly in these countries and be respected and well acknowledged celebrities can announce their pre-marriage pregnancy officially. Jon's case received all negative attention because it was coined as sexual abuse of minors and also a rape case. Also, without ignoring the fact of heinous nature of a rape or a forced sex, it is quite apparent that the long period of punishment imposed on Anand Jon for guilt on some 14 sexual offences which were brought to notice much later after they reportedly occurred, has some tinge of racial bias. Despite a successful lie detector examination, according to a weekly magazine, his brown origin and his fame despite being a non-American stood as a barrier to fetch him right justice. The level of discrimination increased to a height where he was compelled to fire his lawyers and fight his own case but all in vain.
Anand Jon became a victim of one of the largest acts of the interference by a prosecutor in the history of the country. His last words after the verdict to the judge said "If you are going to put me away, do it for the right reasons. Judge, this is my life here." This clearly indicates that the judiciary could have played a fairer role for an Indian too.
Pre-marital sex or relationships are treated as a casual component of the society unlike India where people still find these as a source of hidden gossip or even a taboo. People can lock their lips publicly in these countries and be respected and well acknowledged celebrities can announce their pre-marriage pregnancy officially. Jon's case received all negative attention because it was coined as sexual abuse of minors and also a rape case. Also, without ignoring the fact of heinous nature of a rape or a forced sex, it is quite apparent that the long period of punishment imposed on Anand Jon for guilt on some 14 sexual offences which were brought to notice much later after they reportedly occurred, has some tinge of racial bias. Despite a successful lie detector examination, according to a weekly magazine, his brown origin and his fame despite being a non-American stood as a barrier to fetch him right justice. The level of discrimination increased to a height where he was compelled to fire his lawyers and fight his own case but all in vain.
Anand Jon became a victim of one of the largest acts of the interference by a prosecutor in the history of the country. His last words after the verdict to the judge said "If you are going to put me away, do it for the right reasons. Judge, this is my life here." This clearly indicates that the judiciary could have played a fairer role for an Indian too.
.u r such a cruel guy, u cant help ur friend,i really love u,plz help my dear,
reshmi saha
mera dil nahi karta ke main tumse pyaar karoooo
siliguri
.you need to know the facts before you write an article. I knew him an I am india he is gulty.
.Am I asking you if you are you Jessie B or Holly G or one of the other alleged victims. Cant you understand that someone may have a different opinion than yours. No I dont know him or his family or any of his friends or anyone connected to him. Does that satisfy you?
.There is nothing wrong with "the Indian way of thinking". And what is this "Indian way of thinking" in the first place. All of us think differently and have different opinions. Where are you from by the way and why does your way of thinking not qualify as the "Indian way of thinking"? You do seem to have a tendency to get personal when someone differs with your view point. No I don't know him personally and am not invested in getting him released. I believe he deserves a fair trial and he hasn't got that. There have been so many legal irregularities in this case, prosecutorial misconduct, exculpatory evidence being withheld, interference in defence by prosecution in defiance of court orders, access to client attorny information being compromised through illegal means that i cannot feel this has been a just trial.
It would get very complex if we end up in comparing the way of thoughts that people in India have and that in the US.. But if you read 'sex' as a cultural text and compare, then definitely there is a huge difference. As mentioned in the article.. in America girls or guys are cool about sex, n teenage sex; I dnt say that it is deliberately promoted by any parent but there is no "haw" or a sin type of reaction attached to it unlike India.
That is why it gets strange that r the girls who have complained against Anand are those selected girls of the US who had sex at early age n tat also only with him. Also, continued to be in touch n suddenly arise to complain.
They came to him for their own interest.. he must not have selected them out of 1000s of women n forced dem to be a model.
And Shazia, not tryin to snatch away anythin from ur statement, just wanted to say that its not about he is a rapist or not.. its more about how unfair his case has been dealt with.
Because I dont believe he raped Jessie B which was his only rape conviction. Theres no evidence to suggest he did and plenty to suggest he didn't.
I am an Indian woman. I am not one of these American victims. But I am wondering why you are supporting this rapist. I don't have much more time for this - but rest assured I am happy that this man has gone. he was menace to women and children. It is very good he has gone. I am hoping India will follow and imprison more rapists.
.Now why would someone call him/send him emails/sms's/stay with him paying rent/ work with him/go for tours with his family and so on and do this repetitively long after the incidents. Its not as if they didn't have an opportunity to get away from him, they chose not to. And why would none of them call the cops, infact 2 of them even visited the police station the next day to fight a parking ticket. I hope you realise the difference between supporting a rapist and believing though he may not be entirely innocent he is not as guilty as the quantum of punishment suggests and certainly deserves a fair trial which hasn't been the case. And I am happy with my "Indian way of thinking". It has stood me in good stead so far.
.
Any girl out of those who accused him who kept in touch after these alleged incidents is either lying that it took place or was a willing partner.Let us assume he raped/molested someone. There are only 2 alternatives now, he either gives them work or he dosent.If he dosent why would they keep in touch with him? Hes not their employer so they have to put up with him or else they can get fired or someone who they cant avoid like a neighbour.If he gives them work then the next
time around why would they work with him or keep in touch knowing what he expects in return unless they were all right with it.
The Indian way of thinking - about rape and rape victims is outdated and doesn't serve our families and community. It has not "stood us in good stead". I pray for the day that we too punish rapists in the same way. Look into your heart and ask yourself what protection your sister or mother deserves.
Many many women have continued to associate with a rapist. Especially if they were a parent, doctor, teacher or employer. It is a shameful situation. These men in positions of power can use them for evil. I am wondering why you are so invested in releasing this rapist. Were you close to him?
.And some of those girls have been found to be nude models and strippers, shy enough surprisingly to be molested/raped and not do anything about it for several years and still keep buzzing around him like honeybees around nectar afterwards.
You are the one whose not getting it. You believe hes guilty, thats fine but accusations are not circumstantial evidence. Please look it up. Shame on you for getting personal. Shame on you for calling someone who has a different point of view someone who protects rapists. Shame on you for trying to imply an "Indian way of thinking' is bad.
"All you have is various accusations and no evidence circumstantial or otherwise to back most of them."
You are not getting it. The accusations are the circumstantial evidence. The accusations were so numerous.... it was ridiculous how many girls this man went after. Shame for his family. You do not understand. Time face reality. This man is guilty. He is in jail. This is a good thing for all women. I wish India would do the same thing instead of releasing these men to prey on more women. There is no denying that women are not protected in this country. Shame on you for protecting rapists.
By the way testimonies of these girls do not qualify as circumstantial evidence, those are allegations.
."They came from farms and villages and suburbs across the United States and Canada: Boise, Idaho; Arroyo Grande, California; Foxbor-ough, Massa-chusetts; Kalamazoo, Michigan; Kamloops, British Columbia. Pretty girls with big dreams, they used the Internet to tap into a world that promised wealth and fame. Lindsay, a 17-year-old college student from Minnesota. Nicole, a 21-year-old model from Indiana. Jennifer, a shy 18-year-old from the San Fernando Valley."
.Anand Jon had a prior conviction for assault of a minor (child.) Anand jon videotaped himself performing sexual acts on a child. Anand jon kept a list of all the women and children he had sex with. He recorded their ages. Some of them were minors. Literally hundreds of women and children from all over the United States came forward with stories of assault. Anand Jon did the same thing over and over again. He approached these women and lured them with promises. Then he forced himself on them What more do you need? Anand Jon was found guilty in an American court of law. He still faces charges in New York and Texas.
Its a serious crime in India as well and if someone rapes a 14 year old girl he should be punished and I would advise anyone in any other part of the world as well to totally abstain from this behaviour. Howerver I agree he's not been convicted of raping any minor and the conviction on most of the counts is based on no evidence just accusations that this happened or that happened years ago and i continued to keep in touch with him.
"misdemeanor disorderly conduct with no jail time" - yes a prior conviction. He likes young girls. A 14 year old is a girl. I advise anyone to totally abstain from this behavior in America. It is a serious crime over there.
I dont know what the prior conviction was for but as far as i know it was a misdemeanor disorderly conduct with no jail time. Even I read that he had his conquest list with some minors on it but he hasnt been convicted for raping minors so i don't know how true that is. 100s of women is not true, 20 women with 59 counts, and that videotape was of a 17 year old girl who said she was 18 on that very tape and he may have been fingering her which is also debatable but wasn't having sex with her. What more do you need?" Evidence especially when all the proof you are trying to give is of him having sex with minors and he hasn't been convicted on that charge. So what about the charges he's been convicted on?? All the "evidence" that is there for them is he did this and he did that so many years ago and i didn't report it and i continued to keep in touch with him after that. and i was raped but my medical was negative and i didn't give the lie detector test which he passed and i stayed with him and other friends of his who were in the house till the next afternoon and went only at around lunch time
.i feel that even though there is no proof and he has been charged with only 1 rape and that is of an adult woman he must have had sex with these models. I dont think they had any problem with it. They were sleeping with him to get ahead. What i want to know is that how come all of them are complaining now after so much time and that too against the same person. i am sure many other fashion designers, musicians, etc must be doing it also. Some models are also saying that they were approached to say such things about him and that they were with him during this time and he didn't do any such things. ab sone ke baad bhi kuch khaas ho nahi saka isliye kar rahe hai, par isme anand kya kar sakta hain ek baar kaam de diya aake tumhari kismat.
.I don't want to comment on the judgement on Anand Jon and what he did or did not do or how just or unjust the judgement is but this happens all the time. Many of the models or wannabe models, both girls and guys know what they want and go for it. They are in it willingly. It happens all the time in the fashion industry, and maybe other industries too like films, but in modelling additionaly many of the models are teenagers and maybe minor. You do what you have to to get ahead. Noone forces you. This is hardly surprising. As someone who has been into event
management and has been associated though not directly with the fashion industry I know of many
cases where models have slept to get ahead. I am not trying to say all models or fashion designers are like that and tar everyone with the same brush but this certainly happens a lot.
.@anon what is wrong with you? can't you make your point without getting personal " he did this he did that he lured them he promised them. hundreds of women literally what more do you need and so on" firstly that hundreds of women is an exagerration and most of the charges were thrown out by the prosecution itself some before the case started and some during, secondly where is the evidence, there isn't any. and that is the problem i have with this case. and as far as that list of conquests of women and children if that was admissible he would have been found guilty for more than 1 count of rape ie statutory rape(minor) also which isn't the case.
Akhil, i was replying to another post and quoted from it when i wrote children.I agree minor is probably more appropriate. Also While i agree with you on both the points that you made that it is very possible and if it happened they must have been willing since they got in touch with him repeatedly much after the alleged incidents. But there is no evidence and its a moot point anyway because as of now hes been convicted on 1 count of rape for raping a woman whos not a minor where there is no evidence to suggest rape and plenty to suggest consensual sex ie the -ve medical test, the lie detector test that he passed and she refused to take, the fact that there were other people in the apartment and nothing seemed wrong to them at any time when she interacted with them, her staying till around lunch time at his place and leaving with the others when no one was forcibly holding her back. That was the only charge i was talking about until anon started asking me what is wrong with me.
Hundreds of women?? There were 59 when the trial started and 23 left eventually after some were dropped by the prosecution. The no of women could be much lesser as many of the counts would be against the same woman.
When you say children the first image that comes to mind is of really young kids. These were almost adults even though legally they were minor. aur proof ki kya zaroorat hain. yeh to hota hi rahta hain aise industries main, kiya hoga isne bhi par girls bhi equal partners honge to promote career
.Ohh bc I thought that lie detectors were like 98% accurate. This isn't my opinion, this is a fact. And whether or not they're appropriate for cases is another story. But they are valid. Why would the girl be so opposed to taking one? I would be all for it. Shradha, this case NEEDS proper attention and investigation. The holes and lack of attention is truly sad. I have nothing to gain from its verdict, it's just sad that this man's entire life and career is going to be ruined, not to mention his reputation. His reputation in an industry where soo many do terrible things to each other and nothing is ever reported. I refuse to believe the "facts" of this case.
Also the prior conviction coudn't have been that serious since he did no jail time. not a single day.
just my 2 cents that female with the fingering video(there is difference of opinion as to whether he insterted his finger or not) told anand that she was 18 and this is on tape before she started undressing. she was later found to be 17 at that time
.Shevta, thank you for shedding light on this case. I know that if I am innocent and if I have nothing to hide, I would have no problem taking a lie detector test. This is why Anand did so, most likely. To try and clear his name. The amount of missing evidence in this case is unreal. I feel like it's high school, like "he said, she said." I can't believe it.
you dont have to call others stupid to make your point.. the only person whose stupidity is evident is yours when you have to resort to calling others stupid to make your point
it may not be fool proof but its not easy to beat either, its not as if he's been training all his life to beat lie detector tests besides its too much of a risk for someone to take it if he is actually guilty of rape.. besides the medical report was also negative.. and what do we have on the other side, just the females word that he raped her, and if its so easy to beat why dosent she take it?
Lie detector tests are not admissible as evidence in the US. They are a discredited pseudo-science. Why do you guys think it is God's word? It shows a level of stupidity when you consider that they have been shown to be completely unreliable.
.from the outside looking in, this case looks so black and white. if anyone has ever met anand, they would know how ridiculous this all sounds. this young man has worked his entire life to live out his dream of becoming a fashion designer. no one throws that away for anything. at a very early age he was named as one of America's hottest young designer under 21. my point is this: being in the fashion industry, he was around young and beautiful women all the time. he was never into that lifestyle--the partying, the drugs or the women. he was content living a quiet life, unfortunately that life is loud and reckless for many. i do not believe he raped any of those women. if you knew the facts of the case, you would be horrified at the holes in our judicial system. i am embarrased and shocked that this could happen to someone. right from the start, there was missing facts and evidence but that was ok. anand has been in jail for years. as a young, single attractive woman myself, i know that had my boss or whoever raped me, i wouldn't continue to travel the world with him and promote his dream. perhaps i wouldn't speak out on it or hold a press conference but i wouldn't be ok with seeing this person on the regular. none of this makes sense. it's sad that it has come to this. on a personal note, knowing the jon family, i have never met more wonderful, genuine and pure people in my life. there is nothing fake or pretentious about them. my point is that he was raised right. rape isn't in this man. may God protect him and his entire family. and rest assure, the truth shall set him free.
not only was she not a minor but her medical report was negative for rape and anand passed the lie detector test which she declined to take
i don't know what you are talking about.. he had sex with underage girls and videotaped himself doing it.. are you aware that out of the 16 counts he was found guilty for, only one was for rape with a ms jessie bloor and she was not a minor at the time of the alleged rape.. i can understand you feel strongly that he is guilty but please dont distort facts
CS
Rest assured he had sex with underage girls - he even videotaped himself doing it. This is classified as rape in America. This is because they consider girls this young to be too naive and they expect grown men to leave them alone. Not only that - but if a teacher or employer (as in this case) uses their position to gain access to an underage child, the penalties are even greater. This man was caught before, this being his second conviction. Why do you find it so unbelievable that he did this again?
.its difficult to believe that he was molesting and raping women/girls for so many years and none of them complained to the police.. wouldn't someone have called 911??
the girl on whose complaint the whole case started had a medical test and it was negative for rape
he has also passed a lie detector test and challenged the female to take one too which she refused
how come many of those whom he allegedly molested/raped were still working with him, staying with him, coming to india with his mom and sis for the aids awareness tour, etc after the incident took place
there has to be some evidence apart from mere accusations and that too years after the alleged incident took place before you convict someone to 59 years..
not to mention the irregularities in the legal proceedings against him
"millions of women have been raped and continued to associate with the men" i agree but again i am talking about this particular case not generalising. this isn't someone whom they had no choice but to stay with. they had a choice. it isn't as if it was someone in the family or someone else whom they coudn't avoid. many of them continued to call him, email him send him sms's, some of them came with his sister to india for the aids tour, one of them was staying with him and giving him rent. noone put a gun to their head and make them stay with him and work with him after these alleged incidents. it isn't as if they were with him 24*7 that they coundn't do anything about it or he didn't let them do anything about it. i feel that if he had sex with them or if anything of a sexual nature took place between them i think the girls were consenting partners maybe because they thought it would help them in their careers
to make a mark as a model. that would explain why they kept working with him and sticking around him when they clearly had a choice not to. now if they were minor(by the way when you say"especially if they were
children" you have to keep in mind out of the counts he was found guilty for involving minors one was a 15 year old and rest were all 17 year olds at the time of the alleged incidents, rest of the allegations were thrown out by the da) it is still statutory rape/abusing a minor and he should be punished but there has to be more evidence before you sentence someone to prison for the rest of his life and there isn't any to warrant such a harsh punishment
Millions of women have been raped and continued to associate with the men. Especially if they were children
i am talking about this particular case not generally it remains difficult to believe for me.. what about them staying with him, doing shows with him, going on tours with his family and keeping in touch with him after the alleged incidents.. is that easy to believe too.. one of them was staying with him and paying him rent too..why would you continue to be associated with someone who allegedly raped you.. thats not normal..
.Sharda- Please stop crying racism in this. Stop embarrassing us. What part of "sex with 14 year old you don't understand? What do you think girls are just having sex with anyone and everyone? You are disgusting to defend Anand Ron. Bottomline is he had sex with 14 year old which is crime. It doesn't matter which part of world you are from. I am sure he would have gone free if this trial was held in indian and you were the judge.
the whole part specially when hes convicted for 1 count of rape with an adult woman and 15 other counts which are not of rape.. so where did you get this 14 year old girl from
.Shradha, please do not go to America until you understand the laws there. You cannot under any circumstances, have sex with 14 year olds. It's very simple. Just don't or you will go to jail. No amount of screaming racism will help you. It doesn't matter who broke the law before you. It doesn't matter what the parents are like. It is illegal. End of story. Get it into your head.
where is the proof that he had sex with 14 year olds.. that would be statutory rape.. the only rape charge that he was convicted for was of raping an adult woman and not a minor
I do not hold anything personal against America or the people. Long live the country. Nor do I personally long desperately to visit the country at the same time. May be you failed to understand what was the point to be conveyed.
However, now as you have tried to explain me the law there,I think there might not be any 14 year age girl other than those involved wit Anand Jon who have had sex at their age as that would be against the law of the land.
Lastly, I would like to share that in India we definitely have a Fundamental Right to the freedom of expression and I am accessing that purely in right limits. Its just a viewpoint put forward through this piece of writing. And I very well know what should get into my head and what shouldn't and do not require a unknown party to guide me for the same. But anyways Thank you for your advice and precious time commenting on this article.
Lets agree that that we Diagree on this issue and END THE STORY positively.
.Anand Jon had sex with 14 year old girls, There is no racial bias. If you do this to more than three girls, you are a serial pedophile. They will put you away for life, REGARDLESS of your color. It doesn't matter what color you are - Americans love their children. You are not supposed to take advantage of them.
says who?? even according to the verdict he's raped someone who is not a minor and no 14 year old girl
I highly repect your opinion. None of us would ever support a sexual harrasment whateber race the culprit or victim is but the only question is that Was Anand Jon the only guy in the history of America who had sex with girls below 18 years of age. And why dint these parents loved their kids so much (as mentioned by you Raj) that they refrained themselves from being involved in a sexual relation at 14 years of age.
.I am not sure what Anand Jon did, but the debate here is about Racial Bias. So, I would say a bias would definitely have been there, if not in the judgment, but surly in the way the case was fought. India is giving a fairer trial to Kasab, I hope this puts the point across
Exactly! Why would Jon be compelled to fight the case by himself. he could have appealed for a change of his lawyers and could have even afforded that.
.The court is always more lenient if you plead guilty if you are guilty. They show even more leniency if you show remorse. Anand Jon did neither of these and received a very long sentence. There is no racism. These facts are true whatever your color of skin.
I wish that is the truth but the way the things have turned up has left a gap that compels us to raise a question that is Anand Jon Alexander the first ever personality in the country to have a physical relation with a minor or first ever celebrity to have a sexual relation with any model (as reported)
.1. It's illegal to have sex with underage girls, even if they are willing and definitely if they are not.
2. It doesn't matter if each of the grown women had sex with a 100 men you still can't rape them.
3. Do either of the above and you will go to jail. Do either of the above to multiply girls/women you go to jail for a long long time.
By the way Andrew Luster is whiter than white and American and rich and comes from a very powerful family. He got 124 years because he couldn't follow the rules above.
yes it is illegal to have sex with underage girls but he's not been convicted for that.. he's been convicted on 1 count of rape and that woman is not an underage girl.. besides even in that case medical report is negative, hes passed the lie detector test and theres no proof apart from her accusation
I respect your views on the entire issue but The only point that seem unclear and is raised again and again is that WAS ANAND JON THE FIRST MAN/CELEBRITY ON THE LAND OF THE US TO HAVE SEX WITH A TEENAGE GIRL that some of the girls suddenly accuse him of doing so.
Secondly, Andrew Luster has been a little different case as he was accused of :
1.Giving three women GHB, a known date rape drug;
2. raping them while they were unconscious(17 counts);
3.Creating Video tapes of the same;
4. left the country and was declared a fugitive;
5. While he was absconding, he lived in Mexico under the assumed name David Carrera, surfing and partying.
His crimes were comparetively very henious, running away to escape law adds to his crimes and despite of total 86 accusations he gets 124 years of imprisonment and Anand Jon who has some 14 cases, less than a fourth of 86), less criminal than Andrew's gets 59 years of punishment. Isn't that a bias??
.I am an Indian living in San Francisco. It is highly illegal here to have sex with 15 year olds. This is his second conviction for such things. It is a pity he didn't learn. He shows absolutely no remorse whatsoever. Lesson learned: always follow the laws of the land.
so many comments on him having sex with 14 and 15 year olds?? he's been convicted on 1 count of rape and that is of jessie b who wasn't a minor at the time of the alleged rape
I doubt that teenage-sex is not a new term in US. In fact the teens are more liberal and cool about it. No one of us wants to support a sex crime but why only Anand Jon accused for a sex with minor. Is he the first human being to do so in the country.
.I am an Irish immigrant in San Francisco and I wholeheartedly agree that this trial has not deliver justice to Anand Jon Alexander. The question remains for we know not what ails this superior court judge? He has proven to be totally inflexible in this case, should he be investigated and perhaps drug tested?
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