Wesley has already turned down a previous motion for a new trial after it was discovered that juror Alvin Dymally had contacted Alexander's sister Sanjana. Wesley found both in contempt of court after determining Dymally appeared to want a romantic relationship with her when he spoke to her by phone twice during the trial and offered his help.

Dymally also gave her a note in a courthouse cafeteria, asking her to call him. She did but refused to meet with him alone.

The judge held her in contempt for contacting the juror and failing to report the misconduct. A hearing will be held in September.

In denying the first motion for a new trial, Wesley said there wasn't any proof the phone conversations swayed the verdict.

Alexander on Monday called Dymally a "poisoned apple" and a "renegade, runaway juror" who possibly wrecked his chances for freedom. He also criticized investigators, saying they had done a poor job and hadn't turned over all the evidence over to him.

Wesley disagreed, saying Alexander had failed to convince him there was new evidence to help his cause.

In a moment only befitting for this case, Alexander called his mother to the stand. Shashi Abraham testified Dymally approached her outside the courtroom during trial and assured her that Alexander would be set free.

"He said, 'You don't have to worry. We know your son is innocent. He will be with you very soon,'" Abraham said.

Prosecutors admitted there will likely be a number of issues raised on appeal. They added Alexander's case is an example of what can happen when young women look for opportunity on the Internet.

"The lesson is that often young women or young girls may have dreams they hope to follow," said Deputy District Attorney Mara McIlvain. "But I think the Internet is one of those horrible places now where they come across people they don't know or understand."

The designer has been featured on the television show "America's Next Top Model" and worked with such celebrities as Paris Hilton and Mary J. Blige. His Web site lists dozens of celebrity A-listers as clients, including Hilton, who is described as a fan of Alexander's hand-printed jeans, which sold for more than $700.

Beverly Hills police began investigating Alexander in March 2007 when a woman reported she had been sexually assaulted in his apartment.

During the trial, prosecutors relied heavily on the testimony from women who made the accusations against Alexander. Defense attorneys argued many of women were lying about what happened to them and sought revenge against Alexander when they didn't get modeling jobs. Alexander has maintained his innocence.

Alexander also faces similar charges in New York and Texas, prosecutors said.

Born in India, Alexander graduated from the Parsons School of Design in New York and launched a fashion line in 1999.

(China Daily/Agencies September 2, 2009)