Garcia, 53, had publicly maintained his innocence for years. This is not an organized religion, this is an organized institution of criminal activities thats been running for 96 years. Sentencing is scheduled for Wednesday. Although, he denied the charges, including raping and trafficking girls from his congregation. He initially faced more than 20 charges, but most were dismissed after a plea deal with prosecutors. She pointed to how the church has consistently held that Garcia was innocent and has spent the last few years trying to build a positive image of the institution, claiming its membership has stayed strong. The state of California refiled charges against Megachurch leader Naasn Joaqun Garca last week for child rape and human trafficking. In addition, they accused the La Luz Del Mundo church of sexual battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, and gender violence, seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. 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. On Sept. 8 a lawsuit was filed in California against Joaqun Garca and four church members alleged to be complicit in the sex abuse. ", Garca "will continue ministering to the church," the statement said. Last year, Attorney General Becerrahelped bring downthe worlds largest online brothel, Backpage.com, and convicted its CEO. And theyre accepting that narrative that he had no choice, that he is innocent and this is all still some kind of farce.. Prosecutors said that the crimes dated back to at least 2015. Or to keep it anonymous, click here. Many lifted their fists. [emailprotected]. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 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. Do not translate text that appears unreliable or low-quality. So far he remains imprisoned in the United States. Leila Miller is a foreign correspondent for the Los Angeles Times based in Mexico City. 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. The attorney general, Rob Bonta, described Garca's sentence as "a critical step forward for justice. 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. 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. After Garcias guilty plea, the churchs normally active Facebook page was dormant. Currently, journalists are not allowed to attend services or take photographs inside the church's temples. CBS Los Angeles reportedthe California Department of Justice arrested Joaqun Garcia and two other members of the church, Susana Medina Oaxaca and Alondra Ocampo, in 2019. In addition to Joaqun Garca, Alondra Ocampo and Susana Medina Oaxaca were also arrested. The case has been difficult for some former members who have distanced themselves from the church. La Luz del Mundo dissidents seek more charges . During services, the women sit to the right and men to the left. They bless the bread, the wine, and do other things as if he were here, although physically he is not.". She said she does not think the plea deal will result in a total crisis for the institution.. 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. With Naasns grandfather Aaron Joaquin Gonzalez having established La Luz Del Mundo in 1926 and him being a third-generation heir, its honestly no surprise hed gained worldwide notoriety. 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 defendant has pleaded not guilty to the charges. "SHAME, SHAME ON YOU!": California judge scolds families for abandoning sexual abuse survivors before sentencing self-declared "apostle" Naasn Joaqun Garc. [1] Early life [ edit] 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. CBS News Los Angeles: The Rundown (June 8 AM Edition). Earlier in 2020, a former La Luz Del Mundo church member, Sochil Martin, sued the church and its leaders. Congregation members in the neighborhood call each other "brother" and "sister" and take pride in helping one another. After several delays, Garcias trial was supposed to start with jury selection Monday before Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Ronald S. Coen. Garcia, charged with 23 counts of child sex abuse, is being held on $90 million bail; trial is scheduled for November. 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 did cry, because I was saying, 'God, deliver me from this, make this time pass quickly,'" Haifa said from Texas. Shame on you!". She joined the newsroom in 2018 and spent several years working on the criminal justice team. "He's firm in his convictions, and the church is firm as well in its purpose of moving forward.". 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. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. 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. In 2018, Attorney General Becerracharged the operators of Rainbow Bright, a California adult residential and childcare company, with 59 criminal counts for alleged human trafficking and other alleged labor-related violations. He is currently charged on more than 30 counts, including possession of child pornography, human trafficking, sexual abuse of minors and extortion. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty. This biographical article about a Mexican religious figure is a stub. 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. ", Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. 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. by CNS June 8, 2022. naason joaquin garcia released naason joaquin garcia released. It is Mexicos largest evangelical church and has branches in 50 countries, including churches in East and West Los Angeles. 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. In total, there are more than 30 crimes in total, including child pornography and trafficking in persons, committed between 2015 and 2018. "He used me over and over again like a sacrificial lamb taken to slaughter.". 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. 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. She claimed facing decades of abuse at the hands of the leaders, including Naasn and his late father, Samuel Joaqun Flores. Have a tip or story idea? They were suspected of committing 26 felonies in Los Angeles County between 2015 and 2018. 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. Joaqun Garca and his co-defendants allegedly 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. 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. [9] He will soon face a civil trial for such crimes as human trafficking and forced labor. The California Department of Justice arrested Garcia and two other members of the church, Susana Medina Oaxaca and Alondra Ocampo, in 2019. 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. [10] Federal criminal investigations are pending in both the United States and Mexico. The home base of the church is the Guadalajara neighborhood of Hermosa Provincia, Spanish for "beautiful province." Naason Joaquin Garcia, the church's leader, a man considered by congregants an apostle of Jesus Christ, had just been sentenced to nearly 17 years in prison for committing acts of sexual abuse . 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. 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. 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God has his plan.. The news of the impending plea deal garnered a mixed reaction from a Reddit group that has become a refuge for former church members, some of whom have said they were abused. Naasn Joaqun Garca may be released in December 2032 Dementia And Memory Loss Has Been Linked To This Common Pill. They also alleged the church was involved in a lengthy cover-up of the sexual misconduct. Despite the vast publicity and lurid charges, Garcia had maintained almost universal support within the church. Naasn Joaqun Garca leads a service at his church "La Luz del Mundo" in Guadalajara, Mexico on Aug. 9, 2018. Parents give biblical names to their children and take them to the temple at 40 days old to promise they will guide them to follow their path. 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.Garca and his co-defendants allegedly committed these crimes between 2015 and 2018 while leading La Luz . 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. Posted on 26 Feb in greenshield pharmacy intervention codes. Rich L.A. homeowners are snapping them up, Review: A reimagined Secret Garden fails to flower anew at the Ahmanson Theatre, Column: Supreme Court conservatives may want to block student loan forgiveness. For Raquel Haifa, 43, fulfilling the revivals was a traumatizing experience that she considers abusive, because minors are not able to decline to take part. Please enter valid email address to continue. An arrest warrant has also been issued for Azalea Rangel Melendez, who is currently at large. The KCAL News Staff is a group of experienced journalists who bring you the content on KCALNews.com and CBSLA.com. [3][4][5] Two days before his trial, Naasn Joaqun Garcia pleaded guilty to three charges related to sexually abusing children. 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. 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. 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