Some verdicts in Anand Jon case

Jurors deliberating in the rape trial of fashion designer Anand Jon told the court Wednesday they had reached verdicts on some of the 23 charges he faces, authorities said.

Superior Court Judge David S. Wesley told the panel to keep deliberating but said he would read their verdicts this afternoon, said district attorney’s spokeswoman Jane Robison.

The announcement follows Wesley’s decision earlier this week to deny prosecutors’ request to replace a juror who fellow panelists accused of failing to properly deliberate and discuss evidence in the case. After interviewing jurors Monday, the judge concluded that the juror had done nothing wrong.

Jon, 34, faces charges that he raped or sexually assaulted nine girls and young women in California. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted on all counts.

-- Jack Leonard