Allred, Majority Leader Florez battle cyber harassment of crime victims

Anand Jon case inspires legislation to extend protective orders to internet contact

LOS ANGELES – Senate Majority Leader Dean Florez (D-Shafter) will join victims’ rights attorney Gloria Allred today for a news conference in Los Angeles announcing legislation to protect young crime victims from being harassed through today’s social networking sites after their testimony in a criminal case.

Anand Jon, once a rising young fashion designer known for appearances on programs such as “America’s Next Top Model,” was convicted earlier this year of sex crimes against a number of young, aspiring models.  Jon was also convicted of two counts of committing a lewd and lascivious act on a child.  That child victim, who was also a model, alleges that after his conviction she was harassed by a person who appeared to be acting on behalf of Mr. Jon.

As is the case following trial, the presiding judge no longer has jurisdiction to take action for such harassment following sentencing.

Senate Bill 834 seeks to protect the privacy and safety of victims who testify in a criminal matter.  The measure clarifies that a protective order prohibiting contact extends to harassing a victim through his or her on-line friends, in an attempt to bring the law up to speed with advances in technology.

Allred will be joined Tuesday by her client, the child victim of Mr. Jon, who is trying to move forward with her life now that the trial is over, but is upset by the harassment.

“Today’s youth have a wealth of information at their fingertips through the internet, but they also face new challenges that come along with those advances,” Florez said.  “We need to be responsible for ensuring the law matches the reality our children face today, and do what is within our power to keep young crime victims from being revictimized.”

Today’s news conference will be held at 2 p.m. in the Law Offices of Allred, Maroko and Goldberg, located at 6300 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1500, in Los Angeles.

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WHO: Senate Majority Leader Dean Florez (D-Shafter)
         Attorney Gloria Allred and her client, an alleged victim of cyber harassment over her testimony in the Anand Jon case

WHAT: News conference announcing Senate Bill 834

WHEN: Today, November 24, 2009
          2:00 p.m.

WHERE: Law Offices of Allred, Maroko and Goldberg
            6300 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1500; Los Angeles, CA  90048