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. Nassn Joaqun continues to be the leader of La Luz del Mundo church and one of the most powerful ministers of worship in Mexico. [2], He continues to be named as Legal Representative of the church in Mexico in spite of having been convicted of child sex crimes. "Instead of protecting those innocent women, Naasn and the church fostered and then brutally preyed on their blind trust and allegiance in the 'Apostle'". 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 defendant has pleaded not guilty to the charges. 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. 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. The alleged crimes committed by Garcia occurred between 2015 and 2019. 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. Read More: How Did Samuel Joaqun Flores Die? 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. Her attorney previously told The Times that Ocampo herself suffered years of sexual abuse in the church when she was a minor. Prosecutors said that the crimes dated back to at least 2015. Aarn's wife was the church's first member. A St. Paul, Minn., native, Jany studied communications at Mississippi State University. Where Are Naasn Joaqun Garcia's Wife and Kids Now? In addition to his prison time, Garcia is expected to be ordered to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. Do you remember the night you finally stole my virginityand you smiled and told me it was a blessing from God? said another, who added: Do you remember when you wanted me to bring my little sister to you? 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. / CBS/AP. Today it claims a membership of more than 5 million in some 50 nations. And NOW is the time to stand up and fight.. Libor Jany covers the Los Angeles Police Department. A fourth defendant, Azalea Rangel Melendez, who was previously charged with rape, is still at-large. 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. In 2014, he succeeded his father as the new leader AKA the Apostle of the La Luz del Mundo. At the California Department of Justice, we will continue to stand up for survivors and fight back against abuse. Sentencing is scheduled for Wednesday. 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. Its always somebody elses fault.. ", First published on September 19, 2022 / 8:20 AM. 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. "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. 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. If you see something, report it and we will vigorously pursue justice.. The church contended that prosecutors withheld or doctored evidence, and said Joaqun Garca pleaded guilty because he didn't think he could get a fair trial. Naasn Joaqun Garca leads a service at his church "La Luz del Mundo" in Guadalajara, Mexico on Aug. 9, 2018. Sept. 19, 2022 11:27 AM PT Naasn Joaqun Garca, head of the Mexico-based La Luz del Mundo megachurch, pleaded guilty in June to sexually abusing girls from his congregation and was sentenced to. When he was arrested, many of the faithful flocked to churches in the denominations hometown of Guadalajara, but also in Los Angeles and other cities. In exchange, prosecutors dropped 16 counts that included allegations of raping children and women, as well as human trafficking to produce child pornography. Newsweek has asked the office of California's attorney general for comment on the church's claims. She joined the newsroom in 2018 and spent several years working on the criminal justice team. The case has been difficult for some former members who have distanced themselves from the church. 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. "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 do not see the bars that separate me from you," he told his followers. Sochil further alleged that her aunt and a foster mother groomed and coerced her into forcibly serving the church leaders. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty. Their spiritual leader is behind bars in California after pleading guilty to sexually abusing minors. 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. Joaqun Garca was held on $50 million bail, Ocampo on $25 million, and Oaxaca remained free on bail. Only the rare defendant like Naasn Joaqun Garcia should be locked up before trial, and most should be released without money bail. One commenter speculated about whether the terms of the plea deal might call for Garcia to out other alleged abusers in the church. 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. Please consult with a translator for accuracy if you are relying on the translation or are using this site for official business. They were suspected of committing 26 felonies in Los Angeles County between 2015 and 2018. Im sure hell survive but I doubt it will be happy. According to VICE, the 53-year-old was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport in June 2019. He's known to church members as Aarn - a result, he said, of God asking him to change his name. "I worshipped my abuser," said a woman who described herself as his niece. 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. It is unclear what his guilty admission will mean for the megachurch with international reach, and whether it will force the kind of larger reckoning over abuse and decades-long cover-ups that has swept the Catholic Church. The California Department of Justice has also fought to protect juvenile victims of trafficking,bringing 54 felony chargesagainst the alleged operators of a statewide sex trafficking ring in 2017. Have a tip or story idea? 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. 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. Spanning the main street is a sculpture spelling "innocent" in Spanish. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. ode to the vampire mother results; national asset mortgage lawsuit; green tuna paper; mary davis sos band net worth For some young people, these steps include memorizing songs honoring the apostle, reading the Bible before bed and not marrying someone from outside the church. Have a tip we should know? He is currently charged on more than 30 counts, including possession of child pornography, human. "I just want to tell the Jane Does that the world has heard you," the judge said, according to the Los Angeles Times. They go along with it because they think its a blessing. As for their professional standing, while Alma allegedly serves as a social worker, Adoram has been linked to the Mexican soccer promotional league. [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. A copy of the complaint is available here. 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. He is currently charged on more than 30 counts, including possession of child pornography, human trafficking, sexual abuse of minors and extortion. One remains on the run, while another has agreed to testify against Garcia, saying she herself was abused. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. 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. Have a tip or story idea? If you have any questions please contact: Bilingual Services Program at (916) 210-7580. 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. But theyve hit a snag, Randall Emmett, Ambyr Childers settle domestic violence restraining order dispute, California ski resorts brace for an epic weekend of snow, crowds and disruptions, An assault and fatal stabbing in the middle of class at a Santa Rosa high school, With unfounded fraud claims swirling, red California county dumps Dominion voting machines, Man arrested in connection to 7 bombings in Fresno has links to hate group, authorities say, Vote on LAPD transit patrols sparks City Hall debate over safety on Metro system, UCLA, UCSF hospital nurses voice complaints about overcrowding, staffing shortages. "For us everything is very nice, everything continues to work," she said. Before joining the Los Angeles Times in 2022, he covered public safety for the Star Tribune in Minneapolis. From what we can tell, every member of the Joaqun family prefers to stay well away from the limelight these days, yet they do likely divide their time between their homeland of Guadalajara and their last known base of California. 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. 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. And it shouldnt be, the lawyer continued. She said she expects more will decide to leave because of the guilty plea. 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. 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. Times staff writers Jany and Ormseth reported from Los Angeles, Miller from Mexico City. Joaqun Garca, 53, was arrested in 2019 in California. Ahead of the baptism, in a ritual known as "the revivals," children undergo days of prayer and fasting inside a temple. 2022 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. March 21, 2022 17:02 ET | Source: The Light of the World. Joaqun Garca and his co-defendants allegedly committed these crimes between 2015 and 2018 while leading La Luz Del Mundo, an international religious organization headquartered in Mexico with reportedly over one million followers worldwide. Emailus. He initially faced more than 20 charges, but most were dismissed after a plea deal with prosecutors. The state of California refiled charges against Megachurch leader Naasn Joaqun Garca last week for child rape and human trafficking. This was all Naasons doing.. And theyre accepting that narrative that he had no choice, that he is innocent and this is all still some kind of farce.. 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. Earlier Friday, victims asked a judge to reject the plea deal or sentence the defendant to a far longer prison term. According to recent records, Naasn was transferred to the North Kern State Prison in Delano, California, in August 2022. Naason Joaquin Garcia, leader of La Luz del Mundo church, in court in Los Angeles in 2020. Prosecutors said that the crimes dated back to at least 2015. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Outraged by what they saw as a lenient sentence for La Luz del Mundo leader Naason Joaquin Garcia, a group is urging other victims to speak out. On June 3, 2019, Naasn, Susana, and Alondra landed in a private jet at the Los Angeles International Airport, where they were arrested. 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. Held in jail on $90-million bail, Garcia faced charges ranging from human trafficking and rape to forcible oral copulation of a minor and possession of child pornography. 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. They urged Judge Ronald Coen to impose a longer sentence, but he responded that his "hands are tied" by the agreement. They had once been his most devoted servants. First published on June 8, 2022 / 3:01 PM. "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.". 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. 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. Leila Miller is a foreign correspondent for the Los Angeles Times based in Mexico City. 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. His father as the new leader AKA the Apostle of the World judge reject. 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