Church member Alondra Ocampo was expected to testify against him. The church was founded in 1926 by Garcias grandfather, who was succeeded by Garcias father, Samuel Joaquin Flores. 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. ", 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. [6] On June 8, 2022, he was convicted and sentenced to 16 years and 8 months in prison. 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. In total, there are more than 30 crimes in total, including child pornography and trafficking in persons, committed between 2015 and 2018. On the other hand, a 19-page complaint was filed in court against Naasn by five unnamed victims. With dual nationality, he was in charge of the church in the United States and led congregations in California, Arizona and Texas. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty. Earlier Friday, victims asked a judge to reject the plea deal or sentence the defendant to a far longer prison term. Libor Jany covers the Los Angeles Police Department. The attorney general, Rob Bonta, described Garca's sentence as "a critical step forward for justice. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 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 . The Associated Press contributed to this report. Its not me thats doing this, this is what God wants you to do, Thiagarajah told Brian Ross. Naasn Joaqun Garca leads a service at his church "La Luz del Mundo" in Guadalajara, Mexico on Aug. 9, 2018. 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I know how hard it is for them to see Naason like a normal person that also does bad things, she said. Times staff writers Jany and Ormseth reported from Los Angeles, Miller from Mexico City. 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. 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. They prayed, they talked to journalists, they protested their leaders innocence. A megachurch has defended its leader after he was sentenced to more than 16 years in a California prison for sexually abusing . Joaquin Garca is described as serious, fearsome and strong-willed by those who know him, but there is little public information about him before his rise to power. Flores died in 2014 and passed the mantle of apostle on to Garcia. Damian Dovarganes / AP The. 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. 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 . Not just that, the complaint detailed how the victims were reportedly forced to perform sexual acts and dances in minimal clothing for their Apostle. Garcias lawyers didnt immediately return requests for comment; a church spokesman had no immediate comment. Oaxaca pleaded guilty to one count of assault likely to cause great bodily injury in June. Have a tip or story idea? [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. 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. As of writing, the case is still being deliberated in a court of law. 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. They bless the bread, the wine, and do other things as if he were here, although physically he is not.". Garcia is said to have coerced girls in his congregation to engage in various sex acts over the years. Efforts to fight human trafficking have also included taking on labor exploitation. In 2014, he succeeded his father as the new leader AKA the Apostle of the La Luz del Mundo. Authorities continue to search for a fourth suspect, Azalea Rangel Melendez. However, the five complainants, addressed as Jane Does in the court, were unhappy with the minimal sentences their aggressors received. ", Garca "will continue ministering to the church," the statement said. A St. Paul, Minn., native, Jany studied communications at Mississippi State University. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. La Luz del Mundo is sometimes described as evangelical, but its members do not embrace this term. 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. [8], He was transferred to North Kern State Prison for evaluations to determine his placement within the prison system. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. The neighborhood has cafeterias, clinics, a recreation center and a store that sells Bibles and religious-themed games for children. But she also thinks many church members including her 85-year-old grandmother will continue to believe in Garcias innocence. There are apparently video clips of them engaging in such atrocious acts, some of which even go as far as to include extreme incest. Naason Joaquin Garcia, leader of La Luz del Mundo church, in court in Los Angeles in 2020. Garca, 53, received a sentence of 16 years and 8 months in Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday. 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. ", First published on September 19, 2022 / 8:20 AM. "He used me over and over again like a sacrificial lamb taken to slaughter. At the California Department of Justice, we will do everything we can to prevent and combat these heinous crimes so that our communities are safe. Posted on 26 Feb in greenshield pharmacy intervention codes. "This is a path that God has placed in front of him for a reason, as he did for Apostle Paul.". Naason Joaqun Garcia was arrested at the airport in Los Angeles, California, in June 2019. Joaqun Garca, 53, was arrested in 2019 in California. The church says it has congregations in all 50 American states. This biographical article about a Mexican religious figure is a stub. 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. Many believe he was sent by God to preach to them and are convinced he is innocent, despite his guilty plea. Also, a February federal lawsuit against the church and Joaqun Garca alleging that he and his father sexually abused a Southern California girl regularly from the time she was twelve until she was eighteen is still pending. 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. "The church weaponized the faith of their most vulnerable members," said Jonati Joey Yedidsion, one of the lawyers handling the lawsuit. 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