Or to keep it anonymous, click here. Oaxaca pleaded guilty to one count of assault likely to cause great bodily injury on Friday also. He is currently charged on more than 30 counts, including possession of child pornography, human trafficking, sexual abuse of minors and extortion. A St. Paul, Minn., native, Jany studied communications at Mississippi State University. By Khaleda Rahman On 6/9/22 at 4:57 AM EDT. We should mention that according to Vice, apart from Naasn, his family has also faced accusations of sexual abuse against minors. Naasn Joaqun Garcia, 53, faces more than 16 years in state prison and . 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. He initially faced more than 20 charges, but most were dismissed after a plea deal with prosecutors. This was all Naasons doing.. 6 min read. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 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. However, the five complainants, addressed as Jane Does in the court, were unhappy with the minimal sentences their aggressors received. 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. Most teachings translate into something quotidian. 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. [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. The jailed leader is the grandson of La Luz del Mundo's founder: Eusebio Joaqun Gonzlez, a member of the military who began preaching in 1926. Ruiz told The Associated Press that his family has belonged to La Luz del Mundo for three generations. 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. We will hold you accountable if you break the law, Atty. This led to the position of the organization, which requested the release of its leader through a statement. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Church member Alondra Ocampo was expected to testify against him. "And for those family members that have abandoned you, shame! Naason Joaquin Garcia was arrested in L.A. this past summer and charged with child sexual abuse and human trafficking. Castillo, a recently married woman of 25, told AP the church advises members how "to lead a decent life," in which women may not drink alcohol or go out on frequent dates. "Instead of protecting those innocent women, Naasn and the church fostered and then brutally preyed on their blind trust and allegiance in the 'Apostle'". Please consult with a translator for accuracy if you are relying on the translation or are using this site for official business. Efforts to fight human trafficking have also included taking on labor exploitation. We must not turn a blind eye to sexual violence and trafficking in our state. Naasn became involved with the churchs activities at a young age and served as a minister in several other congregations across California and Arizona. The California Department of Justice arrested Garcia and two other members of the church, Susana Medina Oaxaca and Alondra Ocampo, in 2019. 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. "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 is important to note that criminal charges are only allegations against a person. 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. 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. They go along with it because they think its a blessing. 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. I know how hard it is for them to see Naason like a normal person that also does bad things, she said. The KCAL News Staff is a group of experienced journalists who bring you the content on KCALNews.com and CBSLA.com. CBS News Los Angeles: The Rundown (June 8 AM Edition). Damian Dovarganes / AP The. The survivors had objected to the plea deal and said they had only found out about it at the last minute. Many organization leaders, including Susana and Alondra, were accused of being the perpetrators. The investigation began in 2018, in part, because of information submitted to the California Department of Justice through the clergy abuse online complaint form. 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 Garca in Los Angeles County Superior Court on June 8. "The apostle always shows determination to move forward," said Phares Ruiz, who traveled from El Salvador to attend the Holy Supper. World Crime Sexual abuse. Naason Joaqun Garcia was arrested at the airport in Los Angeles, California, in June 2019. Prosecutors said that the crimes dated back to at least 2015. 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. https://t.co/nTcxEFtidU. 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. 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. Some knelt and wept. 0 . A California appeals court ordered the . Claudia Eunice Hernandez, a former member of the church who is in her early 30s and lives in Mexico City, said Garcias arrest in 2019 led some people to leave the church. 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. The home base of the church is the Guadalajara neighborhood of Hermosa Provincia, Spanish for "beautiful province." Many believe he was sent by God to preach to them and are convinced he is innocent, despite his guilty plea. #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. list of benue state deputy governors list of benue state deputy governors "I do not see the bars that separate me from you," he told his followers. Garcia, charged with 23 counts of child sex abuse, is being held on $90 million bail; trial is scheduled for November. Newsweek has asked the office of California's attorney general for comment on the church's claims. 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. 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. 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. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. When the women tried to expose Garca, they found themselves isolated and shunned by the church community, including members of their own families. Leila Miller is a foreign correspondent for the Los Angeles Times based in Mexico City. Garcias lawyers didnt immediately return requests for comment; a church spokesman had no immediate comment. He is the third apostle of the congregation after succeeding his father Samuel in power after his death on December 14, 2014. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty. ", Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. 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. 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. The bail to be able to leave is 50 million dollars, one of the highest in history. 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. The decision by Ocampo followed weeks of testimony by California state agents about her role in delivering young women to Garcia for sexually deviant acts, many of which she recorded on video for him. 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. 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 not sufficient to say 'I have converted' or "I have baptized'" she said. It is Mexicos largest evangelical church and has branches in 50 countries, including churches in East and West Los Angeles. Hence, in September 2022, they filed a detailed civil lawsuit against Naasn for sexually abusing them, alleging other church members groomed them and used the religion as ammunition to manipulate them. This biographical article about a Mexican religious figure is a stub. She will be sentenced at a later date. 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 material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Offenders and people accused of molesting children always have a difficult time in prison. Ahead of the baptism, in a ritual known as "the revivals," children undergo days of prayer and fasting inside a temple. 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. 2022 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. The defendant has pleaded not guilty to the charges. 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. 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. Garcia, charged with 23 counts of child sex abuse, is being held on $90 million bail; trial is scheduled for November. Nevertheless, there are former members who say their ceremony was not optional. Only the rare defendant like Naasn Joaqun Garcia should be locked up before trial, and most should be released without money bail. Emailus. "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. 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. Earlier Friday, victims asked a judge to reject the plea deal or sentence the defendant to a far longer prison term. In California alone it has about 50 locations. 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. Naason Joaquin Garcia, leader of La Luz del Mundo church, in court in Los Angeles in 2020. . "I see your beautiful faces because you are the children of God.". 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 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. Naason Joaquin Garcia, the leader of the La Luz del Mundo, Spanish for The Light of the World, appears in Los Angeles County Superior Court, on June 5, 2019. Today it claims a membership of more than 5 million in some 50 nations. Flores died in 2014 and passed the mantle of apostle on to Garcia. 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. 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. 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. The church's media relations office claims there is no crime in the area. Ocampo is the second woman from Garcias inner circle to turn against him. It accuses Joaqun Garca of conditioning victims, under the guise of religion, to serve him above all else, ultimately resulting in the sexual abuse over the course of several years. They have power, they have the money, she added. [2], He continues to be named as Legal Representative of the church in Mexico in spite of having been convicted of child sex crimes. While he maintained his innocence for three years, Garca has . His unexpected plea change came during an unannounced hearing Friday, which was only disclosed after the fact in a news release. Shame on you!". My heart goes out to all those affected by the horrific actions brought to light during this case. [10] Federal criminal investigations are pending in both the United States and Mexico. And it shouldnt be, the lawyer continued. And theyre going to keep running with this as long as they possibly can until somebody puts a stop to it.. If you have any questions please contact: Bilingual Services Program at (916) 210-7580. Read More: Where is Naasn Joaqun Garcia Now? 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. She was accused of grooming teenage girls for Garcias sexual pleasure. 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. The conviction comes just days ahead of trial, which was set to begin on Monday. At the California Department of Justice, we will continue to stand up for survivors and fight back against abuse. [1] Early life [ edit] They bless the bread, the wine, and do other things as if he were here, although physically he is not.". 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. After Garcias guilty plea, the churchs normally active Facebook page was dormant. Since having carried out harassment of minors, touching and rape. 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. Jericho, Bethlehem and Nazareth are among the names of roads converging on the white temple that locals call "the cake," for its white tiers that diminish in size as they rise upward. 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. Many lifted their fists. Spanning the main street is a sculpture spelling "innocent" in Spanish. Similar accusations emerged in September last year, so the trial ended up being rescheduled for May 2022. An arrest warrant has also been issued for Azalea Rangel Melendez, who is currently at large. Congregation members in the neighborhood call each other "brother" and "sister" and take pride in helping one another. But in court they called him "evil" and a "monster," "disgusting human waste" and the "antichrist. Are You Taking It? Garcia is said to have coerced girls in his congregation to engage in various sex acts over the years. From the walls hang photographs of Joaqun Garca, smiling and wearing a tuxedo. 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Leave is 50 million dollars, one of the highest in history, and exclusive.... The fact in a news release La Luz del Mundo church, Medina... Notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting ; church. Church member Alondra Ocampo was expected to testify against him there are former members who say their ceremony not! Being told how they were blackmailed by being told how they were defying will! The position of the plea deal or sentence the defendant to a far longer prison term maintained innocence. Charged with child sexual abuse and human trafficking have also included taking on labor exploitation how hard it for... To turn against him they think its a blessing state prison and to... Were blackmailed by being told how they were blackmailed by being told how they were blackmailed being. Told how they were blackmailed by being told how they were defying Gods will converted ' or I. 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naason joaquin garcia released