Newsweek has asked the office of California's attorney general for comment on the church's claims. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 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. Im sure hell survive but I doubt it will be happy. Both father and son have been accused of using the churchs young members as sexual servants, of leading lavish lifestyles on the backs of their followers and of intimidating church members into silence and submission. Damian Dovarganes / AP The. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Todays conviction sends a clear message that sexual exploitation is never acceptable in California. "You have to follow certain steps to prove your loyalty.". 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. Sara Pozos, 49, is among many in the neighborhood who believe their leader's imprisonment has strengthened the church. One remains on the run, while another has agreed to testify against Garcia, saying she herself was abused. March 21, 2022 17:02 ET | Source: The Light of the World. Currently, journalists are not allowed to attend services or take photographs inside the church's temples. In some cities, people tithe more than 10% of their monthly income to the church. And still the bishops and the hierarchy are lying to the members. 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. 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 case has been difficult for some former members who have distanced themselves from the church. "Knowing that these abuses took place there, in my happy place, in my safe place, is horrible," she said. 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. 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. 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 . And theyre going to keep running with this as long as they possibly can until somebody puts a stop to it.. They have power, they have the money, she added. They also alleged the church was involved in a lengthy cover-up of the sexual misconduct. Not just that, the complaint detailed how the victims were reportedly forced to perform sexual acts and dances in minimal clothing for their Apostle. Because his religious registry is against Mexican Law now that he has been sentenced, there is currently a petition to remove his name from both The Light of The World church (iglesia La Luz del Mundo) and the Levitical Fraternity (Fraternidad Levtico) in that country. 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. Naasn Joaqun Garca in Los Angeles County Superior Court on June 8. Nearly all closed their eyes. 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. Authorities have yet to locate the third woman, Azalea Rangel Melendez. Period, said Attorney General Becerra. According to VICE, the 53-year-old was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport in June 2019. ", Garca "will continue ministering to the church," the statement said. Since having carried out harassment of minors, touching and rape. A megachurch has defended its leader after he was sentenced to more than 16 years in a California prison for sexually abusing . naason joaquin garcia released naason joaquin garcia released. 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. 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 . The suit was filed by five women who - under the pseudonym Jane Doe - were identified as victims in the original criminal charges against him. 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. If you have any questions please contact: Bilingual Services Program at (916) 210-7580. ", In a statement issued on Wednesday, Bonda said: "While it will never undo the harm and trauma he caused as the leader of La Luz del Mundo, this sentence makes it crystal clear that abusersno matter who they arewill be held accountable. Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times via AP, Pool, Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. Los Angeles, A $150,000 executive protection dog? 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. "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. Have a tip or story idea? 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 that the crimes dated back to at least 2015. 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.. He is the fifth of eight children and during much . Prosecutors said that the crimes dated back to at least 2015. One commenter speculated about whether the terms of the plea deal might call for Garcia to out other alleged abusers in 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. They described him as "evil," a "monster," "disgusting human waste" and the "Antichrist. Many lifted their fists. Her attorney previously told The Times that Ocampo herself suffered years of sexual abuse in the church when she was a minor. 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Just on March 21, the Church of the Light of the World demanded Nahson's immediate release, after his defense filed a motion claiming that the California Prosecutor's Office conducted incriminating evidence against him. Over several hours, the victims detailed horrific abuse by Garca. Before joining The Times in 2018, he covered city news and state politics at the Hartford Courant. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Before and after photos from space show storms effect on California reservoirs, Dramatic before and after photos from space show epic snow blanketing SoCal mountains, The chance of a lifetime: Five friends ski the tallest mountain in Los Angeles, Best coffee city in the world? [10] Federal criminal investigations are pending in both the United States and Mexico. Joaqun Garca was held on $50 million bail, Ocampo on $25 million, and Oaxaca remained free on bail. "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. A St. Paul, Minn., native, Jany studied communications at Mississippi State University. "Ministers, pastors and deacons have their same duties. She said she expects more will decide to leave because of the guilty plea. "This is a path that God has placed in front of him for a reason, as he did for Apostle Paul.". 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. Leila Miller is a foreign correspondent for the Los Angeles Times based in Mexico City. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 6 min read. 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. Rob Bonta said in a news release issued late Friday afternoon. Another neighborhood resident, Sailem Castillo, also said she was upbeat despite Joaqun Garca's imprisonment. 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. This is not an organized religion, this is an organized institution of criminal activities thats been running for 96 years. 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. "The church weaponized the faith of their most vulnerable members," said Jonati Joey Yedidsion, one of the lawyers handling the lawsuit. Their spiritual leader is behind bars in California after pleading guilty to sexually abusing minors. He was sentenced to more than 16 years after making a plea deal. "It is not sufficient to say 'I have converted' or "I have baptized'" she said. At the California Department of Justice, we will continue to stand up for survivors and fight back against abuse. This Google translation feature is provided for informational purposes only. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. 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. 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. De la Torre said she believes the church will continue to present Garcia as a victim of a conspiracy and that many of its members will keep backing him. Although, he denied the charges, including raping and trafficking girls from his congregation. Many news outlets in Mexico featured Garcias guilty plea on their homepages Friday evening, including the online website Animal Politico and newspaper El Universal. The alleged crimes committed by Garcia occurred between 2015 and 2019. 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 But she also thinks many church members including her 85-year-old grandmother will continue to believe in Garcias innocence. Naason Joaqun Garcia was arrested at the airport in Los Angeles, California, in June 2019. The church's media relations office claims there is no crime in the area. This biographical article about a Mexican religious figure is a stub. Ruiz told The Associated Press that his family has belonged to La Luz del Mundo for three generations. 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. 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. Ahead of the baptism, in a ritual known as "the revivals," children undergo days of prayer and fasting inside a temple. 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. Garcia 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, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said at the time of the arrest. World Crime Sexual abuse. After Garcias guilty plea, the churchs normally active Facebook page was dormant. The church's doctrine is learned from the cradle. 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. Nassn Joaqun continues to be the leader of La Luz del Mundo church and one of the most powerful ministers of worship in Mexico. The defendant has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Todos Los Derechos Reservados 2021 Infobae, Lawyers of the leader of the Light of the World threatened witnesses from the United States and Mexico, I saw a criminal: Naasn Joaqun's assistant told how he lived 30 years with the former leader of La Luz del Mundo, There is already a date for the trial against Naasn Joaqun Garcia: The Light of the World awaits justice for the Apostle of Jesus Christ. The arrests and charges announced today were the result of an investigation initiated by the California Department of Justice. Some knelt and wept. The survivors had objected to the plea deal and said they had only found out about it at the last minute. Church member Alondra Ocampo was expected to testify against him. 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. [1] Early life [ edit] Its always somebody elses fault.. On June 3, 2019, Naasn, Susana, and Alondra landed in a private jet at the Los Angeles International Airport, where they were arrested. He is currently charged on more than 30 counts, including possession of child pornography, human. Many organization leaders, including Susana and Alondra, were accused of being the perpetrators. I know how hard it is for them to see Naason like a normal person that also does bad things, she said. 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. He called Garca a sexual predator. Garcia, charged with 23 counts of child sex abuse, is being held on $90 million bail; trial is scheduled for November. 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. 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