", First published on September 19, 2022 / 8:20 AM. LOS ANGELES, March 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- We are shocked by the facts in the recent motion filed by defense attorney Alan Jackson on . Originally facing 36 charges, Garcia at the last minute took a plea deal that called for him to admit to three counts, the state attorney generals office announced Friday: two counts of forcible oral copulation involving minors and one count of a lewd act upon a child who was 15 years old. Moreover, the eldest Joaqun child has even been quite active in the La Luz del Mundo congregation lately and could potentially be preparing to succeed his father. A copy of this disclaimer can also be found on our Disclaimer page. The California Department of Justice arrested Garcia and two other members of the church, Susana Medina Oaxaca and Alondra Ocampo, in 2019. [2], Before becoming the head of La Luz del Mundo at 45, he was (most recently) a minister for the group in Santa Ana, California, and previously served as minister for other congregations in cities throughout California (Huntington Park, San Diego, East Los Angeles, Santa Maria) and Arizona. However, this might merely pertain to his father rather than his wife or kids since neither of them has ever been indicted on such offenses. He called Garca a sexual predator. It should be reiterated that this religious entity, like its leader, has been surrounded by controversies, investigations and allegations: in December 2020, the Financial Intelligence Unit filed five complaints against it. June 8, 2022 / 3:01 PM Los Angeles, A $150,000 executive protection dog? Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times via AP, Pool, Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. Emailus. As of writing, the case is still being deliberated in a court of law. "Knowing that these abuses took place there, in my happy place, in my safe place, is horrible," she said. It is important to note that criminal charges are only allegations against a person. So far he remains imprisoned in the United States. But still just purely drinking from that information trough only from the Church. Many news outlets in Mexico featured Garcias guilty plea on their homepages Friday evening, including the online website Animal Politico and newspaper El Universal. Even outside the temple, the sound of his voice stirred emotions among dozens of devotees guarding entries to the sanctuary. "I did cry, because I was saying, 'God, deliver me from this, make this time pass quickly,'" Haifa said from Texas. A St. Paul, Minn., native, Jany studied communications at Mississippi State University. Do not translate text that appears unreliable or low-quality. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. His unexpected plea change came during an unannounced hearing Friday, which was only disclosed after the fact in a news release. On June 8, 2022, Naasn was convicted for the three charges and sentenced to 16 years and 8 months behind bars. La Luz del Mundo dissidents seek more charges . Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Before and after photos from space show storms effect on California reservoirs, Dramatic before and after photos from space show epic snow blanketing SoCal mountains, The chance of a lifetime: Five friends ski the tallest mountain in Los Angeles, Best coffee city in the world? He is currently charged on more than 30 counts, including possession of child pornography, human trafficking, sexual abuse of minors and extortion. Most teachings translate into something quotidian. When the women tried to expose Garca, they found themselves isolated and shunned by the church community, including members of their own families. One of the perpetrators was Naasn Joaqun Garcia, the third leader of the organization, who was accused of sexually abusing and even trafficking countless young children over many years. The case against him came as a result of a tip in 2018 to a U.S. Justice Department website that was created to help people report abuse by clergy. Have a tip or story idea? ", Garca "will continue ministering to the church," the statement said. Read More: Where is Naasn Joaqun Garcia Now? Garcia, charged with 23 counts of child sex abuse, is being held on $90 million bail; trial is scheduled for November. "I see your beautiful faces because you are the children of God.". According to recent records, Naasn was transferred to the North Kern State Prison in Delano, California, in August 2022. Another neighborhood resident, Sailem Castillo, also said she was upbeat despite Joaqun Garca's imprisonment. To gasps of surprise, Joaqun Garca addressed the congregation by telephone from his Los Angeles prison, where he is serving a 16-year sentence. Sochil Martin, a former La Luz del Mundo member who has filed a civil RICO suit against Garcaand LLDM alleging sexual abuse and other crimes, was highly critical of the plea deal, and compared the church to a mafia-type organization that would continue to operate despite Garcas imprisonment. LOS ANGELES (RNS) Naasn Joaqun Garca, the leader of La Luz del Mundo, is facing a new lawsuit filed by five women who allege he sexually abused them while other church members groomed . "The Apostle of Jesus Christ has had no choice but to accept with much pain that the agreement presented is the best way forward to protect the church and his family," the church said. "It has been a very difficult issue, of course, for him and for us," she added. But criminal attorney Fred Thiagarajah,who at various points was involved on both sides of the case, noted the reality waiting for Garcain prison will likely be a stark awakening for the self-described Apostle, if not his followers. International Director of the La Luz del Mundo Church, "Naasn Merar Joaqun Garca: El "apstol" del poder", "Es Naasn Joaqun Garca, nuevo lder de La Luz del Mundo", "La Luz del Mundo Church Leader Accused of Sex Crimes", "Leader of La Luz Del Mundo religious group arrested on suspicion of rape, child porn", "Sex abuse charges against La Luz del Mundo leader are the 'tip of the iceberg,' prosecutors say", "La Luz del Mundo church leader pleads guilty to sex abuse charges", "Mexican megachurch leader gets more than 16 years for abuse", "Child rape charges refiled against Mexican megachurch leader", https://www.paudal.com/2022/08/18/the-light-of-the-world-naason-joaquin-is-changed-from-jail-for-this-reason/, "Leader of Mexican Church Is Sentenced to 16 Years for Sex Crimes", "Naasn Joaqun Garca: quin es lder de La Luz del Mundo (biografa)", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Naasn_Joaqun_Garca&oldid=1135821281. Born in Argentina but raised in Los Angeles, Miller is a graduate of Oberlin College and Columbia Universitys School of Journalism. The defendant has pleaded not guilty to the charges. [1], Joaqun Garca was born on May 7, 1969 in the Mexican city of Guadalajara, Jalisco, the fifth of seven children to Samuel Joaqun Flores and Eva Garca. In addition to his prison time, Garcia is expected to be ordered to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. Yet for now, if you simply wish to learn more about those personally near the incumbent Apostle throughout these years his wife and his children weve got the necessary details for you. By Khaleda Rahman On 6/9/22 at 4:57 AM EDT. He used me over and over again like a sacrificial lamb taken to slaughter, recalled one young woman, testifying as Jane Doe out of fear of reprisals. Garcia, charged with 23 counts of child sex abuse, is being held on $90 million bail; trial is scheduled for November. Sara Pozos, 49, is among many in the neighborhood who believe their leader's imprisonment has strengthened the church. naason joaquin garcia released naason joaquin garcia released. Naasn Joaqun Garca in Los Angeles County Superior Court on June 8. #PressReleaseWe publicly manifest our support for the Apostle of Jesus Christ Naasn Joaqun Garca; our confidence in him remains intact with full knowledge of his integrity, his conduct and his work.#AlwaysUnited pic.twitter.com/GizHsnHnfT, The church added: "We publicly manifest our support for the Apostle of Jesus Christ; our confidence in him remains intact in the full knowledge of his integrity, his conduct and his work. "I do not see the bars that separate me from you," he told his followers. And theyre going to keep running with this as long as they possibly can until somebody puts a stop to it.. Garcia coerced victims into performing sexual acts by telling them that if they went against any of his desires or wishes as the Apostle, that they were going against God, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said at the time of the arrest. While he initially did not enter a plea, he was held at a shocking $50 million bail, generating massive outrage among his followers against the legal authorities. Todos Los Derechos Reservados 2021 Infobae, Lawyers of the leader of the Light of the World threatened witnesses from the United States and Mexico, I saw a criminal: Naasn Joaqun's assistant told how he lived 30 years with the former leader of La Luz del Mundo, There is already a date for the trial against Naasn Joaqun Garcia: The Light of the World awaits justice for the Apostle of Jesus Christ. Earlier Friday, victims asked a judge to reject the plea deal or sentence the defendant to a far longer prison term. Just on March 21, the Church of the Light of the World demanded Nahson's immediate release, after his defense filed a motion claiming that the California Prosecutor's Office conducted incriminating evidence against him. Naasn Joaqun Garcia -- the leader of La Luz del Mundo (Light of the World) -- was sentenced to 16 years and eight months in prison after pleading guilty Friday to two counts of forcible oral copulation involving minors and one count of a lewd act upon a child who was 15 years old. Joaquin Garca is described as serious, fearsome and strong-willed by those who know him, but there is little public information about him before his rise to power. In other new developments in the pre-trial hearings this week, a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge, citing insufficient evidence, dismissed four counts of extortion and two counts of forcible rape of a minor and unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor against Garcia, a move that was declared a victory by the Apostles supporters. In a major set back for the defense of Nasson Joaquin Garcia, his co-defendant, Alondra Ocampo, has pleaded guilty to four felony counts involving the sexual abuse of minors and is now prepared to testify against him at trial in California. We reiterate that his procedural and constitutional rights must remain in force, such as the presumption of innocence and the right to due process, as well as the right to be judged impartially and without bias. the spokesman said. The other individuals named in the complaint are Alondra Ocampo, Azalea Rangel Melendez, and Susana Medina Oaxaca, all of whom are affiliated with La Luz Del Mundo. Only the rare defendant like Naasn Joaqun Garcia should be locked up before trial, and most should be released without money bail. Nearly all closed their eyes. The attorney general, Rob Bonta, described Garca's sentence as "a critical step forward for justice. And theyre accepting that narrative that he had no choice, that he is innocent and this is all still some kind of farce.. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) Just days before his long-awaited trial was set to start, La Luz del Mundo leader Naason Joaquin Garcia pleaded guilty Friday to sexually abusing girls from his congregation, a stunning . Garcia leads the Light of the World Church, an evangelical-based faith which claims to have five million members in dozens of countries around the world. The lawsuit includes detailed accounts from the five plaintiffs alleging that they were pressured by Joaqun Garca and his associates into performing for pornographic photo shoots, and were forced to engage in sex acts with him. Ocampo pleaded guilty to three felony counts of contact with a minor for the purposes of committing a sexual offense and one count of forcible sexual penetration two years ago. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Prosecutors said Garca, who is considered the "apostle" of Jesus by the church's millions of followers, used his position to have sex with girls and young women in the congregation. After La Luz Del Mundo megachurch leader Naasn Joaqun Garca was sentenced Wednesday to 16 years and 8 months in prison, the Law&Crime Network's Brian Ross. This is not an organized religion, this is an organized institution of criminal activities thats been running for 96 years. September 19, 2022 / 8:20 AM Last year, Attorney General Becerrahelped bring downthe worlds largest online brothel, Backpage.com, and convicted its CEO. This Google translation feature is provided for informational purposes only. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. While he initially did not enter a plea, he was held at a shocking $50 million bail, generating massive outrage among his followers against the legal authorities. Judge Ronald Coens harsh view of Garcafollowed hours of emotional and graphic testimony in a Los Angeles courtroom Wednesday from five of Garcas young female victims, who broke down in tears as they described years of sexual abuse, rape and forced servitude by the sects top religious leader. revocar-registros-religiosos-de-njg-pederasta-confeso, On June 3, 2019, Joaqun Garca was arrested and charged by prosecutors from Los Angeles County with sexual abuse charges involving minors. While Naasn maintained he was innocent for several months as he awaited his trial, in a shocking turn of events, he accepted a plea deal just three days before his trial commenced in June 2022. The KCAL News Staff is a group of experienced journalists who bring you the content on KCALNews.com and CBSLA.com. Earlier in 2020, a former La Luz Del Mundo church member, Sochil Martin, sued the church and its leaders. Speaking on a podcast called "I Left a Sect," Lo-ami Salazar said Hermosa Provincia used to be her "happy place.". Im sure hell survive but I doubt it will be happy. [3][4][5] Two days before his trial, Naasn Joaqun Garcia pleaded guilty to three charges related to sexually abusing children. Sochil further alleged that her aunt and a foster mother groomed and coerced her into forcibly serving the church leaders. The bail to be able to leave is 50 million dollars, one of the highest in history. She has pleaded guilty to four counts as part of a deal in 2020. Theyre still using this power they have to manipulate, use and control these people, Martin told the Law&Crime Networks Chief Investigative Correspondent Brian Ross. Spanning the main street is a sculpture spelling "innocent" in Spanish. They bless the bread, the wine, and do other things as if he were here, although physically he is not.". Even as a California judge declared their leader a sexual predator, sentencing him to 16 years and eight months for sexual abuse of minors in his congregation, leaders of the Light of the World Church declared their faith in Naasn Joaqun Garca, known as The Apostle of Jesus Christ, to his five million followers. Libor Jany covers the Los Angeles Police Department. Garcia, he said, abused his authority to take advantage of children, while relying on his underlings to groom congregants for the purposes of sexual assault., Todays conviction can never undo the harm, Bonta declared, but it will help protect future generations.. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The survivors had objected to the plea deal and said they had only found out about it at the last minute. Thus, the Church of Light assured that based on the motion submitted it is clear that his constitutional rights have been unjustly violated, putting this as the main reason why he should be released. / CBS/AP. In the criminal complaint filed with the Los Angeles County Superior Court, the California Department of Justice alleges Joaqun Garca and his co-defendants committed 26 felonies in Southern California over a period of approximately four years. Naasn Joaqun Garca may be released in December 2032 Aug. 21, 202200:24 La Luz del Mundo is a church that originated in Guadalajara, Mexico, in the 1950s and now has a presence in dozens of countries, including the United States. Alma was seemingly always well respected but just not as popular, especially considering her position and the fact theres little to absolutely no information available on her on any public platform. "The church weaponized the faith of their most vulnerable members," said Jonati Joey Yedidsion, one of the lawyers handling the lawsuit. Staggering snowfall in California mountains leaves residents trapped for days, SpaceX launches new crew to space station, Prosecution wraps case at Alex Murdaugh murder trial, White House cybersecurity strategy pivots to regulation, Explosive found in checked luggage at Pennsylvania airport, feds say, Rape kits from two women lead to arrest in 1979 murder of one of them, FDA authorizes first at-home test for both COVID and flu, Couple accuses fertility clinic of implanting embryo with cancer genes, Several hospitalized after Lufthansa flight diverted to Dulles due to turbulence, Mexican megachurch leader gets over 16 years in prison for sexual abuse. The defendant has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Where Are Naasn Joaqun Garcia's Wife and Kids Now? She joined the newsroom in 2018 and spent several years working on the criminal justice team. The alleged crimes committed by Garcia occurred between 2015 and 2019. For them, hes a saint that does everything well., Renee de la Torre is a researcher in Guadalajara for the Center of Research and Graduate Studies in Social Anthropology and has studied La Luz del Mundo. Naason Joaqun Garcia was arrested at the airport in Los Angeles, California, in June 2019. The man who leads a huge international church and calls himself the Apostle has now been abandoned for a second time by one of the women who allegedly groomed and recruited teenage girls from the church for him to sexually abuse. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. 13,512 Alert: Alzheimer's-Like Memory Loss Has Been Linked To This Common Pill 25,161 These Banks Pay Up To 17X The National Average On Your Savings 33,426 Sponsored Ad 8/21/2022, 2:19:28 AM Naason Joaquin Garcia, leader of La Luz del Mundo church, in court in Los Angeles in 2020. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Moreover, if they denied or hesitated, they were blackmailed by being told how they were defying Gods will. Yet, despite the charges against Naasn, his followers and the La Luz del Mundo continued supporting him and believing his claims of innocence. It is Mexicos largest evangelical church and has branches in 50 countries, including churches in East and West Los Angeles. by CNS June 8, 2022. "This is a path that God has placed in front of him for a reason, as he did for Apostle Paul.". Not just that, the complaint detailed how the victims were reportedly forced to perform sexual acts and dances in minimal clothing for their Apostle. The Associated Press contributed to this report. One commenter speculated about whether the terms of the plea deal might call for Garcia to out other alleged abusers in the church. Naasn Joaqun Garcia -- the leader of La Luz del Mundo (Light of the World) -- was sentenced to 16 years and eight months in prison after pleading guilty Friday to two counts of forcible oral. Additionally, Attorney General Becerra testified before the U.S. Senate to push for the passage of the federal Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act, which became law in 2018. Authorities continue to search for a fourth suspect, Azalea Rangel Melendez. 0 . Both father and son have been accused of using the churchs young members as sexual servants, of leading lavish lifestyles on the backs of their followers and of intimidating church members into silence and submission. Have a tip or story idea? First published on June 8, 2022 / 3:01 PM. The California attorney generals office, which is handling the case, also had accused Garcia of coercing underlings to recruit young girls for him to sexually abuse. A copy of the complaint is available here. Meanwhile the California State Attorney General continues its investigation and has created a dedicated hotline for tips:(323) 765-2100 orhttps://oag.ca.gov/LLDM, Have a tip we should know? This is a man who has committed atrocities in the name of God, in the name of this church and everything is an excuse. Over several hours, the victims detailed horrific abuse by Garca. Aarn's wife was the church's first member. "He's firm in his convictions, and the church is firm as well in its purpose of moving forward.". My heart goes out to all those affected by the horrific actions brought to light during this case. Despite the vast publicity and lurid charges, Garcia had maintained almost universal support within the church. She was provided by Mrs Ocampo, provided whipped cream, strawberries, lingerie, and the other girl would spray the whipped cream and strawberries on each other and then lick them off, said Special Agent Troy Holmes in court. Naasn became involved with the churchs activities at a young age and served as a minister in several other congregations across California and Arizona. I know how hard it is for them to see Naason like a normal person that also does bad things, she said. If you believe you have been a victim of sexual abuse or have information about incidents of sexual misconduct related to anyone who may be involved in this case, please call (323) 765-2100 or you can file a complaint online at https://oag.ca.gov/LLDM. However the Guadalajara-based megachurch, also known as the Light of the World, issued a statement on Wednesday afternoon reiterating its support for Garca and saying he had only pleaded guilty to the counts because he did not think he would receive a fair trial. She said she expects more will decide to leave because of the guilty plea. They had once been his most devoted servants. The arrests were the result of a joint effort between the California Department of Justice and a number of law enforcement agencies, including Homeland Security Investigations within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Los Angeles Airport Police. They dont doubt that the servant of God is lying to them or that hes committing a crime against them. Martin, who left the church years earlier, said in an interview with Brian Ross Investigates. Former members of the Church stressed that Garcas relatively short sentence as a result of a plea deal with prosecutors means the 53-year-old could be back at the pulpit in 8-10 years. Ocampo requested that Jane Doe number one send her nude photos of herself because the servant of god who is defendant Garcia, would be really happy, said special agent Thomas Donohue in court. Garcia is said to have coerced girls in his congregation to engage in various sex acts over the years. Leila Miller is a foreign correspondent for the Los Angeles Times based in Mexico City. Similar accusations emerged in September last year, so the trial ended up being rescheduled for May 2022. Illicit enrichment, money laundering, transfers to tax havens and the purchase of luxury goods and services were some of the alerts issued by the unit. Crimes like those alleged in this complaint have no place in our society. In 2014, he succeeded his father as the new leader AKA the Apostle of the La Luz del Mundo. Prosecutors said that the crimes dated back to at least 2015. If possible, verify the text with references provided in the foreign-language article. The state of California refiled charges against Megachurch leader Naasn Joaqun Garca last week for child rape and human trafficking. Since Joaqun Garca's arrest, La Luz del Mundo's media relations team says it cannot make official statements on his case because litigation is ongoing. Joaqun Garca's prison sentence in June came after nearly three hours of emotional statements by five young women he was charged with sexually abusing. We will hold you accountable if you break the law, Atty. [emailprotected]. He is the third apostle of the congregation after succeeding his father Samuel in power after his death on December 14, 2014. The attorney general of California, Xavier Becerra, has even said that he is a madman. The leader, of the Church of Light, today behind bars of a prison in California, is accused, along with three accomplices, of multiple crimes. CBS News Los Angeles: The Rundown (June 8 AM Edition). Born on May 7, 1969, in Guadalajara, Mexico, Naasn Joaqun Garcia was the fifth of Mexican church leader Samuel Joaqun Flores eight children. And unfortunately, I see a lot of lamentations of family and family members that are out online saying that they feel very sad, he said. Their spiritual leader is behind bars in California after pleading guilty to sexually abusing minors. His continued hold on his flock was evident recently at the Christian church's main temple in Guadalajara, as thousands gathered to pray for their absent leader during their Holy Supper, the most sacred festivity for La Luz del Mundo. On June 3, 2019, Naasn, Susana, and Alondra landed in a private jet at the Los Angeles International Airport, where they were arrested. They have power, they have the money, she added. And NOW is the time to stand up and fight.. March 21, 2022 17:02 ET | Source: The Light of the World. The conviction comes just days ahead of trial, which was set to begin on Monday. The religion is "very demanding," said Arlene M. Snchez-Walsh, a professor of religious studies at Azusa Pacific University, a Christian institution near Los Angeles. . Emailus. They prayed, they talked to journalists, they protested their leaders innocence. Said parishioner Robert Pelegreen at the time: When David was going to fight Goliath, it looked like he was going to lose. While Flores was never charged with a crime, Garcias arrest and the subsequent charges against him made international headlines. Justice arrested Garcia and two other members of the La Luz Del Mundo Naasn involved! Despite Joaqun Garca last week for child rape and human trafficking verify text. Wife was the church emerged in September last year, so the trial ended up being rescheduled may. Garcia should be locked up before trial, which was set to begin on Monday which! Deal or sentence the defendant has pleaded guilty to sexually abusing minors strengthened the church feature is provided for purposes... Course, for him and for us, '' the statement said of.. Despite Joaqun Garca in Los Angeles Times based in Mexico City Pool, Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion Deplatforming... Court of law trial, which was only disclosed after the fact in a release. 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