The attorney general, Rob Bonta, described Garca's sentence as "a critical step forward for justice. And theyre going to keep running with this as long as they possibly can until somebody puts a stop to it.. OAKLAND - California Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced securing a guilty plea and conviction against Naasn Joaqun Garca, the leader of La Luz del Mundo, for multiple felony counts of sexual assault involving three separate minors. The investigation began in 2018, in part, because of information submitted to the California Department of Justice through the clergy abuse online complaint form. 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. Those born in the community are baptized at 14 because, according to the church, that lets them decide whether to reaffirm or leave the faith. They were suspected of committing 26 felonies in Los Angeles County between 2015 and 2018. LOS ANGELES, March 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- We are shocked by the facts in the recent motion filed by defense attorney Alan Jackson on March 15 in the case regarding the Apostle of Jesus . 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Rob Bonta said in a news release issued late Friday afternoon. [3][4][5] Two days before his trial, Naasn Joaqun Garcia pleaded guilty to three charges related to sexually abusing children. Read More: Where is Naasn Joaqun Garcia Now? Every defendant is presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty. Emailus. Last year, Attorney General Becerrahelped bring downthe worlds largest online brothel, Backpage.com, and convicted its CEO. "All this goes to show that although you are part of this world, you have accepted a very particular way of life because you are Christian," Snchez-Walsh said. A lot of people have the expectation that once there was a guilty verdict, whether it be through trial, whether it be through pleading guilty, that loved ones and family members would wake up to the truth. Ocampo is the second woman from Garcias inner circle to turn against him. The grandson of the church's founder, Garca maintained his innocence following his arrest but eventually pleaded guilty in June 2022 to two counts of forcible oral copulation on a minor and one. Thats because it charts not just the way the titular Mexican non-traditional Christian Church took advantage of minors for years but also the 2019 apprehension of leader Naasn Joaqun Garcia. Also, a February federal lawsuit against the church and Joaqun Garca alleging that he and his father sexually abused a Southern California girl regularly from the time she was twelve until she was eighteen is still pending. Another neighborhood resident, Sailem Castillo, also said she was upbeat despite Joaqun Garca's imprisonment. Said parishioner Robert Pelegreen at the time: When David was going to fight Goliath, it looked like he was going to lose. [8], He was transferred to North Kern State Prison for evaluations to determine his placement within the prison system. Church member Alondra Ocampo was expected to testify against him. On June 3, 2019, Naasn, Susana, and Alondra landed in a private jet at the Los Angeles International Airport, where they were arrested. 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 KCAL News Staff is a group of experienced journalists who bring you the content on KCALNews.com and CBSLA.com. 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. 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. The survivors had objected to the plea deal and said they had only found out about it at the last minute. A St. Paul, Minn., native, Jany studied communications at Mississippi State University. In pre-trial testimony California state agents said the young victims in the case known as Jane Does 1-5 , described Ocampos role as a handmaiden, women who were groomed and were sexually abused themselves before doing the same to other young women in the church. I know how hard it is for them to see Naason like a normal person that also does bad things, she said. Ocampo has been held in custody for more than a year since her arrest with Garcia on his private jet at the Los Angeles airport by California law enforcement. In this case, the court set bail for Joaqun Garca at $25 million. 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. Earlier this year, Sochil Martin, who grew up in the Church in southern California, filed a civil lawsuit against Garcia and the church, describing how she had been recruited at the age of nine and became a sex slave for both Garcias fatherthe previous Apostleand then Garcia. According to recent records, Naasn was transferred to the North Kern State Prison in Delano, California, in August 2022. 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. My heart goes out to all those affected by the horrific actions brought to light during this case. With dual nationality, he was in charge of the church in the United States and led congregations in California, Arizona and Texas. Oaxaca pleaded guilty to one count of assault likely to cause great bodily injury on Friday also. In addition to his prison time, Garcia is expected to be ordered to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. [10] Federal criminal investigations are pending in both the United States and Mexico. Todays decision demonstrates, as we have always said, that the Apostle is innocent and his innocence will be judicially proven through the course of the trial a Church spokesperson said in a written statement to Brian Ross Investigates. Martin, a former church member, told the Law&Crime Network how she was then coerced into helping to recruit other young women and participated in the taping of lurid sex scenes involving the teens and Garcia. Shame on you!". The case has been difficult for some former members who have distanced themselves from the church. list of benue state deputy governors list of benue state deputy governors "Ministers, pastors and deacons have their same duties. by CNS June 8, 2022. 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. At the California Department of Justice, we will continue to stand up for survivors and fight back against abuse. March 21, 2022 17:02 ET | Source: The Light of the World. 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. 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. "I think it changed for the better in the sense that now we feel more united, and we feel more empowered," she said. But in court they called him "evil" and a "monster," "disgusting human waste" and the "antichrist. Garcias lawyers didnt immediately return requests for comment; a church spokesman had no immediate comment. Before joining the Los Angeles Times in 2022, he covered public safety for the Star Tribune in Minneapolis. 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. Naason Joaqun Garcia was arrested at the airport in Los Angeles, California, in June 2019. Its unclear whether the latters work involves him marketing a team or sponsoring them, but we do know he appears perfectly content at the moment. "We all suffer something in life, but one learns to know those moments where you see that God is doing something to help you, to get ahead, not to let you fall.". He initially faced more than 20 charges, but most were dismissed after a plea deal with prosecutors. They allegedly were told that if they went against Garcias desires they were going against God. She said she expects more will decide to leave because of the guilty plea. Leila Miller is a foreign correspondent for the Los Angeles Times based in Mexico City. naason joaquin garcia released naason joaquin garcia released. Three female church members also have been charged with various offenses. It is important to note that criminal charges are only allegations against a person. This page was last edited on 27 January 2023, at 01:49. He was sentenced to more than 16 years after making a plea deal. "He used me over and over again like a sacrificial lamb taken to slaughter.". "The apostle always shows determination to move forward," said Phares Ruiz, who traveled from El Salvador to attend the Holy Supper. 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. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. She was also part of the team that was a 2020 Pulitzer finalist for its coverage of the Conception boat fire off the Channel Islands. "I just want to tell the Jane Does that the world has heard you," the judge said, according to the Los Angeles Times. / CBS/AP. [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 California alone it has about 50 locations. 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. He's known to church members as Aarn - a result, he said, of God asking him to change his name. 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. Crimes like those alleged in this complaint have no place in our society. Even outside the temple, the sound of his voice stirred emotions among dozens of devotees guarding entries to the sanctuary. The defendant has pleaded not guilty to the charges. "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," it continued, adding that he had wanted to spare the church and his family "weeks of unfounded public accusations" and threats. I said She was only 14 and you replied I should have brought her to you sooner., In pronouncing his sentence, the judge criticized those who had turned their backs on the victims, saying Shame, shame on you., But none of that seemed to deter his followers and church leaders who claimed the prosecutions evidence was doctored and altered, as they reiterated their support for the man they call their Apostle. A statement from church leaders following the sentencing stated our confidence in him remains intact, comparing his prosecution to a path that God has placed in front of him for a reason, as he did for Apostle Paul.. . However, the five complainants, addressed as Jane Does in the court, were unhappy with the minimal sentences their aggressors received. #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. Theyve always supported this pedophile, this rapist, this criminal, and who himself just confessed that he was a pedophile. 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. As for their professional standing, while Alma allegedly serves as a social worker, Adoram has been linked to the Mexican soccer promotional league. The church was founded in 1926 by Garcias grandfather, who was succeeded by Garcias father, Samuel Joaquin Flores. The defendant has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Oaxaca pleaded guilty to one count of assault likely to cause great bodily injury in June. The Associated Press contributed to this report. 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. 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. "For us everything is very nice, everything continues to work," she said. Since having carried out harassment of minors, touching and rape. 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, March 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- We are shocked by the facts in the recent motion filed by defense attorney Alan Jackson on . As a documentary series that lives up to its title in every way imaginable, HBOs Unveiled: Surviving La Luz Del Mundo can only be described as equal parts gripping, riveting, as well as haunting. "It is not sufficient to say 'I have converted' or "I have baptized'" she said. Defendants facing state criminal allegations are eligible for bail in most cases, allowing them to await future court dates out of police custody if they have the financial resources to post bail. This was all Naasons doing.. 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. Ocampo has been held in custody for more than a year since her arrest with Garcia on his private jet at the Los Angeles airport by California law enforcement. The neighborhood has cafeterias, clinics, a recreation center and a store that sells Bibles and religious-themed games for children. Born in Argentina but raised in Los Angeles, Miller is a graduate of Oberlin College and Columbia Universitys School of Journalism. 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. If possible, verify the text with references provided in the foreign-language article. [emailprotected]. A California appeals court ordered the . Nearly all closed their eyes. 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. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ", Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. Congregation members in the neighborhood call each other "brother" and "sister" and take pride in helping one another. 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. Currently, journalists are not allowed to attend services or take photographs inside the church's temples. Yet legions of followers ofNaasn Joaqun Garcain his home base in Mexico remain fervently loyal to him, viewing his imprisonment as a challenge that will strengthen their church, La Luz del Mundo (The Light of the World), rather than weaken it. 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. As the states chief law enforcement officer, Attorney General Becerra is committed to combatting human trafficking and safeguarding the rights of trafficking survivors. 27 January 2023, at 01:49 group of experienced journalists who bring you the content on KCALNews.com CBSLA.com. Committing a crime against them enforcement officer, Attorney General Becerra is committed to combatting trafficking... 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