And unfortunately, I see a lot of lamentations of family and family members that are out online saying that they feel very sad, he said. 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. You can help Wikipedia by expanding 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. 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. They were suspected of committing 26 felonies in Los Angeles County between 2015 and 2018. 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. Todays conviction sends a clear message that sexual exploitation is never acceptable in California. 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. . 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. 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. #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. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. [3][4][5] Two days before his trial, Naasn Joaqun Garcia pleaded guilty to three charges related to sexually abusing children. The survivors had objected to the plea deal and said they had only found out about it at the last minute. 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. Its always somebody elses fault.. If you believe you have been a victim of sexual abuse or have information about incidents of sexual misconduct related to anyone who may be involved in this case, please call (323) 765-2100 or you can file a complaint online at https://oag.ca.gov/LLDM. "I did cry, because I was saying, 'God, deliver me from this, make this time pass quickly,'" Haifa said from Texas. 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. 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. The case has been difficult for some former members who have distanced themselves from the church. 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. Naason Joaquin Garcia was arrested in L.A. this past summer and charged with child sexual abuse and human trafficking. The religion is "very demanding," said Arlene M. Snchez-Walsh, a professor of religious studies at Azusa Pacific University, a Christian institution near Los Angeles. Gen. While Naasn maintained he was innocent for several months as he awaited his trial, in a shocking turn of events, he accepted a plea deal just three days before his trial commenced in June 2022. 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. 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. Only in September 2020 did the man plead not guilty to the crimes charged against him. Garcias lawyers didnt immediately return requests for comment; a church spokesman had no immediate comment. [8], He was transferred to North Kern State Prison for evaluations to determine his placement within the prison system. In total, there are more than 30 crimes in total, including child pornography and trafficking in persons, committed between 2015 and 2018. "I worshipped my abuser," said a woman who described herself as his niece. On June 3, 2019, Naasn, Susana, and Alondra landed in a private jet at the Los Angeles International Airport, where they were arrested. Nevertheless, there are former members who say their ceremony was not optional. 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. 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. So far he remains imprisoned in the United States. 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. 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. 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. This is not an organized religion, this is an organized institution of criminal activities thats been running for 96 years. Sochil further alleged that her aunt and a foster mother groomed and coerced her into forcibly serving the church leaders. 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. by CNS June 8, 2022. The neighborhood has cafeterias, clinics, a recreation center and a store that sells Bibles and religious-themed games for children. 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. [9] He will soon face a civil trial for such crimes as human trafficking and forced labor. Garcia, 53, had publicly maintained his innocence for years. Sara Pozos, 49, is among many in the neighborhood who believe their leader's imprisonment has strengthened the church. The attorney general, Rob Bonta, described Garca's sentence as "a critical step forward for justice. They also alleged the church was involved in a lengthy cover-up of the sexual misconduct. If possible, verify the text with references provided in the foreign-language article. 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. 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? But still just purely drinking from that information trough only from the Church. In this case, the court set bail for Joaqun Garca at $25 million. At the California Department of Justice, we will continue to stand up for survivors and fight back against abuse. 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. Currently, journalists are not allowed to attend services or take photographs inside the church's temples. list of benue state deputy governors list of benue state deputy governors Many believe he was sent by God to preach to them and are convinced he is innocent, despite his guilty plea. Coming to his two sisters, Elda and Simba, aside from the fact the latter has ostensibly been married since 2013, we, unfortunately, do not know much about them in any manner. A California appeals court ordered the . In other new developments in the pre-trial hearings this week, a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge, citing insufficient evidence, dismissed four counts of extortion and two counts of forcible rape of a minor and unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor against Garcia, a move that was declared a victory by the Apostles supporters. Where Are Naasn Joaqun Garcia's Wife and Kids Now? Similar accusations emerged in September last year, so the trial ended up being rescheduled for May 2022. 6 min read. 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 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. "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. Its not me thats doing this, this is what God wants you to do, Thiagarajah told Brian Ross. 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. ", Garca "will continue ministering to the church," the statement said. Authorities have yet to locate the third woman, Azalea Rangel Melendez. An arrest warrant has also been issued for Azalea Rangel Melendez, who is currently at large. Are You Taking It? They have power, they have the money, she added. I believe she [Ocampo] was brainwashed, said Martin. 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. 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. 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. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. However the Guadalajara-based megachurch, also known as the Light of the World, issued a statement on Wednesday afternoon reiterating its support for Garca and saying he had only pleaded guilty to the counts because he did not think he would receive a fair trial. Naasn was revered among his church community, but things came crashing down around 2019 when he and two of his associates, Susana Medina Oaxaca and Alondra Ocampo, came under the polices radar. [12]. Even outside the temple, the sound of his voice stirred emotions among dozens of devotees guarding entries to the sanctuary. 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. The bail to be able to leave is 50 million dollars, one of the highest in history. "Knowing that these abuses took place there, in my happy place, in my safe place, is horrible," she said. 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. He is the third apostle of the congregation after succeeding his father Samuel in power after his death on December 14, 2014. A megachurch has defended its leader after he was sentenced to more than 16 years in a California prison for sexually abusing . Or to keep it anonymous, click here. "This is a path that God has placed in front of him for a reason, as he did for Apostle Paul.". Biblical verses are cited to explain behavior. "He's firm in his convictions, and the church is firm as well in its purpose of moving forward.". Please consult with a translator for accuracy if you are relying on the translation or are using this site for official business. Three female church members also have been charged with various offenses. Born on May 7, 1969, in Guadalajara, Mexico, Naasn Joaqun Garcia was the fifth of Mexican church leader Samuel Joaqun Flores eight children. They allegedly were told that if they went against Garcias desires they were going against God. Nearly all closed their eyes. Naasn Joaqun Garca in Los Angeles County Superior Court on June 8. 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