Another codefendant, Susana Medina Oaxaca, who was Garcias former assistant, pleaded guilty Friday to a charge of assault likely to cause great bodily injury, Bontas office said. Her attorney previously told The Times that Ocampo herself suffered years of sexual abuse in the church when she was a minor. Naasn became involved with the churchs activities at a young age and served as a minister in several other congregations across California and Arizona. After several delays, Garcias trial was supposed to start with jury selection Monday before Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Ronald S. Coen. We must not turn a blind eye to sexual violence and trafficking in our state. At the California Department of Justice, we will continue to stand up for survivors and fight back against abuse. 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. After Garcias guilty plea, the churchs normally active Facebook page was dormant. 0 . June 8, 2022 / 3:01 PM Offenders and people accused of molesting children always have a difficult time in prison. Shame on you!". "The church weaponized the faith of their most vulnerable members," said Jonati Joey Yedidsion, one of the lawyers handling the lawsuit. 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. Los Angeles, A $150,000 executive protection dog? Ocampo is the second woman from Garcias inner circle to turn against him. 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. "He used me over and over again like a sacrificial lamb taken to slaughter.". 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. And still the bishops and the hierarchy are lying to the members. "You have to follow certain steps to prove your loyalty.". A megachurch has defended its leader after he was sentenced to more than 16 years in a California prison for sexually abusing girls in his congregation. This is a man who has committed atrocities in the name of God, in the name of this church and everything is an excuse. 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. https://t.co/nTcxEFtidU. My heart goes out to all those affected by the horrific actions brought to light during this case. Naasn Joaqun Garca in Los Angeles County Superior Court on June 8. While Flores was never charged with a crime, Garcias arrest and the subsequent charges against him made international headlines. Naasn Joaqun Garca may be released in December 2032 Dementia And Memory Loss Has Been Linked To This Common Pill. 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. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Naason Joaqun Garcia was arrested at the airport in Los Angeles, California, in June 2019. Another poster wrote, In light of this disturbing news, we are calling on ALL the victims who are still out there who have been abused by this sick monster to please come forward., We know there are many, many out there. Naason Joaquin Garcia, leader of La Luz del Mundo church, in court in Los Angeles in 2020. 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. And it shouldnt be, the lawyer continued. On June 3, 2019, Naasn, Susana, and Alondra landed in a private jet at the Los Angeles International Airport, where they were arrested. 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. Leila Miller is a foreign correspondent for the Los Angeles Times based in Mexico City. 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. 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. Authorities have yet to locate the third woman, Azalea Rangel Melendez. 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. Biblical verses are cited to explain behavior. He is currently charged on more than 30 counts, including possession of child pornography, human. One remains on the run, while another has agreed to testify against Garcia, saying she herself was abused. Theyre still using this power they have to manipulate, use and control these people, Martin told the Law&Crime Networks Chief Investigative Correspondent Brian Ross. 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. During services, the women sit to the right and men to the left. 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. Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times via AP, Pool, Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. The investigation began in 2018, in part, because of information submitted to the California Department of Justice through the clergy abuse online complaint form. An arrest warrant has also been issued for Azalea Rangel Melendez, who is currently at large. Joaqun Garca, 53, was arrested in 2019 in California. 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. list of benue state deputy governors list of benue state deputy governors Have a tip or story idea? In 2014, he succeeded his father as the new leader AKA the Apostle of the La Luz del Mundo. 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. Agents also testified that Ocampo would take the young girls to Victorias Secret stores to buy lingerie for them to wear as she filmed them for the Apostle.. There are apparently video clips of them engaging in such atrocious acts, some of which even go as far as to include extreme incest. ", "I worshipped my abuser," said a woman identified as Jane Doe 4 and said she was his niece. 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. 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? Said parishioner Robert Pelegreen at the time: When David was going to fight Goliath, it looked like he was going to lose. As the states chief law enforcement officer, Attorney General Becerra is committed to combatting human trafficking and safeguarding the rights of trafficking survivors. Although, he denied the charges, including raping and trafficking girls from his congregation. by CNS June 8, 2022. Another neighborhood resident, Sailem Castillo, also said she was upbeat despite Joaqun Garca's imprisonment. 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. After the court determined he was a flight risk, Garcia's been held without . Garcias lawyers didnt immediately return requests for comment; a church spokesman had no immediate comment. Nearly all closed their eyes. 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. Only the rare defendant like Naasn Joaqun Garcia should be locked up before trial, and most should be released without money bail. Naasn Joaqun Garca may be released in December 2032 Aug. 21, 202200:24 La Luz del Mundo is a church that originated in Guadalajara, Mexico, in the 1950s and now has a presence in dozens of countries, including the United States. 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. Naason Joaqun Garcia was arrested at the airport in Los Angeles, California, in June 2019. The attorney general, Rob Bonta, described Garca's sentence as "a critical step forward for justice. Nassn Joaqun continues to be the leader of La Luz del Mundo church and one of the most powerful ministers of worship in Mexico. They have power, they have the money, she added. But still just purely drinking from that information trough only from the Church. For them, hes a saint that does everything well., Renee de la Torre is a researcher in Guadalajara for the Center of Research and Graduate Studies in Social Anthropology and has studied La Luz del Mundo. 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. Or to keep it anonymous, click here. 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. Sexual assault is never acceptable. They go along with it because they think its a blessing. Have a tip or story idea? 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? Garcia, charged with 23 counts of child sex abuse, is being held on $90 million bail; trial is scheduled for November. 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. Originally facing 36 charges, Garcia at the last minute took a plea deal that called for him to admit to three counts, the state attorney generals office announced Friday: two counts of forcible oral copulation involving minors and one count of a lewd act upon a child who was 15 years old. "For us everything is very nice, everything continues to work," she said. Garcia, 53, had publicly maintained his innocence for years. The church says it has congregations in all 50 American states. Posted on 26 Feb in greenshield pharmacy intervention codes. 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. "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. 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. Since having carried out harassment of minors, touching and rape. After Fridays unexpected plea, he will instead face sentencing Wednesday. The Associated Press contributed to this report. 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. In some cities, people tithe more than 10% of their monthly income to the church. ", Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. So far he remains imprisoned in the United States. The California Department of Justice arrested Garcia and two other members of the church, Susana Medina Oaxaca and Alondra Ocampo, in 2019. March 21, 2022 17:02 ET | Source: The Light of the World. Libor Jany covers the Los Angeles Police Department. They urged Judge Ronald Coen to impose a longer sentence, but he responded that his "hands are tied" by the agreement. A St. Paul, Minn., native, Jany studied communications at Mississippi State University. She joined the newsroom in 2018 and spent several years working on the criminal justice team. 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. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. A megachurch has defended its leader after he was sentenced to more than 16 years in a California prison for sexually abusing . This led to the position of the organization, which requested the release of its leader through a statement. 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 "will continue ministering to the church," the statement said. And NOW is the time to stand up and fight.. "Instead of protecting those innocent women, Naasn and the church fostered and then brutally preyed on their blind trust and allegiance in the 'Apostle'". 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