This led to the position of the organization, which requested the release of its leader through a statement. "He used me over and over again like a sacrificial lamb taken to slaughter. 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 reversal for a man who followers believe is an apostle appointed by God. Near the end of the call, Joaqun Garca asked his followers to raise their hands and their voices to God and repeat after him: "I promise you, Lord, that whatever the suffering, I will never abandon you.". A megachurch has defended its leader after he was sentenced to more than 16 years in a California prison for sexually abusing . It should be recalled that just on March 15, a 211-page motion was filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court by defense attorney Alan Jackson, claiming that the California Prosecutor's Office fabricated incriminating evidence, created reports based on false evidence, erased and concealed exculpatory evidence.. Fugitive in $18 million COVID fraud scheme extradited to U.S. RFK killer Sirhan Sirhan denied parole by California board, Ex-Georgia star Jalen Carter was racing in deadly crash, arrest warrants allege, Where things stand in the Alex Murdaugh double murder trial. The California Department of Justice arrested Garcia and two other members of the church, Susana Medina Oaxaca and Alondra Ocampo, in 2019. It seems clear that many members of the church, founded in Mexico in 1926 and now active in many countries, aren't ready to abandon Joaqun Garca as their "apostle" - the term used for the church's leader. While its leader, Naasn Joaqun Garca, has been idolized by millions of followers as an apostle of God, he just pleaded guilty to child sex abuse charges in Los Angeles on June 3. LOS ANGELES (CNS) - The leader of a Mexico-based evangelical megachurch is due in a Los Angeles courtroom today to face sentencing following a deal with prosecutors last week in which he agreed to plead guilty to three sex counts involving minors. In California alone it has about 50 locations. Only the rare defendant like Naasn Joaqun Garcia should be locked up before trial, and most should be released without money bail. SACRAMENTO California Attorney General Xavier Becerra today announced the arrest and filing of charges against Naasn Joaqun Garca (Joaqun Garca) and his co-defendants for alleged human trafficking, production of child pornography, forcible rape of a minor, and other felonies. However, his wife Alma Zamora de Joaqun, with whom hed tied the knot in 1992, reportedly does not enjoy the same status in any of the 50+ countries wherein the church has a presence. Church member Alondra Ocampo was expected to testify against him. In addition to his prison time, Garcia is expected to be ordered to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. Naasn Merar Joaqun Garca (born on May 7, 1969) is a Mexican religious leader and convicted child molester who is the third leader of the La Luz del Mundo church, succeeding his father, Samuel Joaqun Flores, in December 2014. HBOs Unveiled: Surviving La Luz Del Mundo peeks behind the closed doors of the Mexican Christian megachurch La Luz Del Mundo and sheds light on the rampant sexual abuse faced by several minors by the church leaders. Another neighborhood resident, Sailem Castillo, also said she was upbeat despite Joaqun Garca's imprisonment. We also claim so because it was recently reported that Naasns son Adoram acquired a massive mansion in Malibu, a highly affluent coastal community within Los Angeles. Garcia has been in jail for nearly three years awaiting trial, since state prosecutors charged him with abusing girls who belonged to his Mexico-based megachurch. 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. Three female church members also have been charged with various offenses. 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. Earlier in 2020, a former La Luz Del Mundo church member, Sochil Martin, sued the church and its leaders. A California appeals court ordered the . At the California Department of Justice, we will continue to stand up for survivors and fight back against abuse. According to recent records, Naasn was transferred to the North Kern State Prison in Delano, California, in August 2022. . Kellermeyer said his wife who earlier pled guilty was preparing to be the star witness at Garcas trial and was disappointed not to have the opportunity to testifyhaving hoped to reach dedicated church members, like her own parents, still in the church who refuse to believe that Garca is guilty. 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 . I know how hard it is for them to see Naason like a normal person that also does bad things, she said. He's known to church members as Aarn - a result, he said, of God asking him to change his name. He was sentenced to more than 16 years after making a plea deal. The arrests and charges announced today were the result of an investigation initiated by the California Department of Justice. (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 . The church's doctrine is learned from the cradle. March 21, 2022 17:02 ET | Source: The Light of the World. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Garcawho took over as "apostle" after his father, Samuel Joaqun Flores, died in 2014had been subjected to a prosecution where evidence was "suppressed, withheld, doctored and altered," the statement said. Despite the vast publicity and lurid charges, Garcia had maintained almost universal support within the church. They urged Judge Ronald Coen to impose a longer sentence, but he responded that his "hands are tied" by the agreement. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Please consult with a translator for accuracy if you are relying on the translation or are using this site for official business. Before joining The Times in 2018, he covered city news and state politics at the Hartford Courant. 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. Faithful attend a Santa Cena or Holy Supper service in the La Luz del Mundo or the Light of the World flagship temple in Guadalajara, Mexico, Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022. It is Mexicos largest evangelical church and has branches in 50 countries, including churches in East and West Los Angeles. 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. "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. Sexual assault is never acceptable. [2], He continues to be named as Legal Representative of the church in Mexico in spite of having been convicted of child sex crimes. 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. As of writing, the case is still being deliberated in a court of law. A trial date has been set for Naasn Joaqun Garca, the leader of the Mexico-based megachurch La Luz del Mundo who is facing a number of sex abuse charges. He called Garca a sexual predator. Even outside the temple, the sound of his voice stirred emotions among dozens of devotees guarding entries to the sanctuary. 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. And theyre going to keep running with this as long as they possibly can until somebody puts a stop to it.. One commenter speculated about whether the terms of the plea deal might call for Garcia to out other alleged abusers in the church. Biblical verses are cited to explain behavior. Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times via AP, Pool, Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. 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. A St. Paul, Minn., native, Jany studied communications at Mississippi State University. This, as explained at the time by the prosecutor in charge of the case, because there was a suspicion that his followers would seek to pay the fine. 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. Similar accusations emerged in September last year, so the trial ended up being rescheduled for May 2022. On June 8, 2022, Naasn was convicted for the three charges and sentenced to 16 years and 8 months behind bars. Naasn Merar Joaqun Garca (born on May 7, 1969) is a Mexican religious leader and convicted child molester who is the third leader of the La Luz del Mundo church, succeeding his father, Samuel Joaqun Flores, in December 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. Many organization leaders, including Susana and Alondra, were accused of being the perpetrators. 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. 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. Do not translate text that appears unreliable or low-quality. "For us everything is very nice, everything continues to work," she said. Furthermore, Susana and Alondra pled guilty to the charges against them. Where Are Naasn Joaqun Garcia's Wife and Kids Now? After several delays, Garcias trial was supposed to start with jury selection Monday before Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Ronald S. Coen. Born in Argentina but raised in Los Angeles, Miller is a graduate of Oberlin College and Columbia Universitys School of Journalism. He initially faced more than 20 charges, but most were dismissed after a plea deal with prosecutors. Had it proceeded, the trial might have offered a rare glimpse into the insular world of La Luz del Mundo Light of the World which boasts more than 5 million members. SACRAMENTO - California Attorney General Xavier Becerra today announced the arrest and filing of charges against Naasn Joaqun Garca (Joaqun Garca) and his co-defendants for alleged human trafficking, production of child pornography, forcible rape of a minor, and other felonies. Prosecutors said that the crimes dated back to at least 2015. [9] He will soon face a civil trial for such crimes as human trafficking and forced labor. "SHAME, SHAME ON YOU!": California judge scolds families for abandoning sexual abuse survivors before sentencing self-declared "apostle" Naasn Joaqun Garc. ", "I worshipped my abuser," said a woman identified as Jane Doe 4 and said she was his niece. 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. "You have to follow certain steps to prove your loyalty.". And it shouldnt be, the lawyer continued. Currently, journalists are not allowed to attend services or take photographs inside the church's temples. Im sure hell survive but I doubt it will be happy. Matthew Ormseth is a reporter for the Los Angeles Times. 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. 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 them and used the religion as ammunition against them. The alleged crimes committed by Garcia occurred between 2015 and 2019. Libor Jany covers the Los Angeles Police Department. Kriti Mehrotra December 6, 2022 As a documentary series that lives up to its title in every way imaginable, HBO's 'Unveiled: Surviving La Luz Del Mundo' can only be described as equal parts gripping, riveting, as well as haunting. The suit was filed by five women who - under the pseudonym Jane Doe - were identified as victims in the original criminal charges against him. 0 . Over several hours, the victims detailed horrific abuse by Garca. Like other women in Hermosa Provincia, she wears dresses and skirts that are not form-fitting, eschews makeup and earrings and wears her hair long. Los Angeles, A $150,000 executive protection dog? She said she expects more will decide to leave because of the guilty plea. His plea deal came after five young womenonce devoted followers of the church founded by Garca's grandfather in Mexico nearly a century agotestified that he had made them his sex slaves. The RICO suit names him, the organization called Light of the World, his mother, his wife, his brother, and many of the leaders of the organization. He is the fifth of eight children and during much . 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. The Office of the Attorney General is unable to guarantee the accuracy of this translation and is therefore not liable for any inaccurate information resulting from the translation application tool. Born on May 7, 1969, in Guadalajara, Mexico, Naasn Joaqun Garcia was the fifth of Mexican church leader Samuel Joaqun Flores eight children. In addition to Joaqun Garca, Alondra Ocampo and Susana Medina Oaxaca were also arrested. "He's firm in his convictions, and the church is firm as well in its purpose of moving forward.". Many believe he was sent by God to preach to them and are convinced he is innocent, despite his guilty plea. Many news outlets in Mexico featured Garcias guilty plea on their homepages Friday evening, including the online website Animal Politico and newspaper El Universal. Or to keep it anonymous, click here. Naason Joaqun Garcia was arrested at the airport in Los Angeles, California, in June 2019. A megachurch has defended its leader after he was sentenced to more than 16 years in a California prison for sexually abusing girls in his congregation. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. [3][4][5] Two days before his trial, Naasn Joaqun Garcia pleaded guilty to three charges related to sexually abusing children. Crimes like those alleged in this complaint have no place in our society. The case has been difficult for some former members who have distanced themselves from the church. Faced more than 16 years in a court of law the release of its leader a! 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