Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov, State of California Department of Justice, Consumer Protection and Economic Opportunity, California Justice Information Services (CJIS), helped bring downthe worlds largest online brothel, push for the passage of the federal Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act, Attorney General Becerra Announces Arrest of Naasn Joaqu. The defendant has pleaded not guilty to the charges. 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. 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. I believe she [Ocampo] was brainwashed, said Martin. 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. Held in jail on $90-million bail, Garcia faced charges ranging from human trafficking and rape to forcible oral copulation of a minor and possession of child pornography. "The church weaponized the faith of their most vulnerable members," said Jonati Joey Yedidsion, one of the lawyers handling the lawsuit. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. "And for those family members that have abandoned you, shame! 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. "I see your beautiful faces because you are the children of God.". 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. 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. World Crime Sexual abuse. "For us everything is very nice, everything continues to work," she said. 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. [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. / KCAL News. After several delays, Garcias trial was supposed to start with jury selection Monday before Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Ronald S. Coen. A copy of this disclaimer can also be found on our Disclaimer page. With dual nationality, he was in charge of the church in the United States and led congregations in California, Arizona and Texas. Authorities continue to search for a fourth suspect, Azalea Rangel Melendez. This was all Naasons doing.. Naason Joaquin Garcia, leader of La Luz del Mundo church, in court in Los Angeles in 2020. "I worshipped my abuser," said a woman who described herself as his niece. "Instead of protecting those innocent women, Naasn and the church fostered and then brutally preyed on their blind trust and allegiance in the 'Apostle'". 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. The investigation began in 2018, in part, because of information submitted to the California Department of Justice through the clergy abuse online complaint form. "This is a path that God has placed in front of him for a reason, as he did for Apostle Paul.". 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. Biblical verses are cited to explain behavior. In the criminal complaint filed with the Los Angeles County Superior Court, the California Department of Justice alleges Joaqun Garca and his co-defendants committed 26 felonies in Southern California over a period of approximately four years. The suit was filed by five women who - under the pseudonym Jane Doe - were identified as victims in the original criminal charges against him. Born in Argentina but raised in Los Angeles, Miller is a graduate of Oberlin College and Columbia Universitys School of Journalism. 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. 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. Naasn Joaqun Garca in Los Angeles County Superior Court on June 8. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. 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. "He used me over and over again like a sacrificial lamb taken to slaughter. Church member Alondra Ocampo was expected to testify against him. According to recent records, Naasn was transferred to the North Kern State Prison in Delano, California, in August 2022. (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 . 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. LOS ANGELES, March 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- We are shocked by the facts in the recent motion filed by defense attorney Alan Jackson on March 15 in the case regarding the Apostle of Jesus . "We all suffer something in life, but one learns to know those moments where you see that God is doing something to help you, to get ahead, not to let you fall.". And still the bishops and the hierarchy are lying to the members. 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. [emailprotected]. One commenter speculated about whether the terms of the plea deal might call for Garcia to out other alleged abusers in the church. 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. God has his plan.. Since Joaqun Garca's arrest, La Luz del Mundo's media relations team says it cannot make official statements on his case because litigation is ongoing. Earlier Friday, victims asked a judge to reject the plea deal or sentence the defendant to a far longer prison term. Garcia, charged with 23 counts of child sex abuse, is being held on $90 million bail; trial is scheduled for November. Her attorney previously told The Times that Ocampo herself suffered years of sexual abuse in the church when she was a minor. Naason Joaquin Garcia, leader of La Luz del Mundo church, in court in Los Angeles in 2020. From what we can tell, every member of the Joaqun family prefers to stay well away from the limelight these days, yet they do likely divide their time between their homeland of Guadalajara and their last known base of California. The state of California refiled charges against Megachurch leader Naasn Joaqun Garca last week for child rape and human trafficking. 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. He's known to church members as Aarn - a result, he said, of God asking him to change his name. On June 8, 2022, Naasn was convicted for the three charges and sentenced to 16 years and 8 months behind bars. This page was last edited on 27 January 2023, at 01:49. Garca, 53, received a sentence of 16 years and 8 months in Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday. The lawsuit includes detailed accounts from the five plaintiffs alleging that they were pressured by Joaqun Garca and his associates into performing for pornographic photo shoots, and were forced to engage in sex acts with him. 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. However, the five complainants, addressed as Jane Does in the court, were unhappy with the minimal sentences their aggressors received. Bail was set at a stunning $25 million for Naason Joaquin . Naasn became involved with the churchs activities at a young age and served as a minister in several other congregations across California and Arizona. Period, said Attorney General Becerra. Ruiz told The Associated Press that his family has belonged to La Luz del Mundo for three generations. Nassn Joaqun continues to be the leader of La Luz del Mundo church and one of the most powerful ministers of worship in Mexico. [10] Federal criminal investigations are pending in both the United States and Mexico. The conviction comes just days ahead of trial, which was set to begin on Monday. But in court they called him "evil" and a "monster," "disgusting human waste" and the "antichrist. Their spiritual leader is behind bars in California after pleading guilty to sexually abusing minors. 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. "He used me over and over again like a sacrificial lamb taken to slaughter.". Garcia is said to have coerced girls in his congregation to engage in various sex acts over the years. 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. After the court determined he was a flight risk, Garcia's been held without . March 21, 2022 17:02 ET | Source: The Light of the World. 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. Do not translate text that appears unreliable or low-quality. 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. Or to keep it anonymous, click here. 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. #BREAKING: As the result of a multiyear investigation and prosecution led by CalDOJ, megachurch leader Naasn Joaqun Garca has pled guilty to multiple felony counts of sexual assault involving minors. This is not an organized religion, this is an organized institution of criminal activities thats been running for 96 years. 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. OAKLAND - California Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced securing a guilty plea and conviction against Naasn Joaqun Garca, the leader of La Luz del Mundo, for multiple felony counts of sexual assault involving three separate minors. 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. The RICO suit names him, the organization called Light of the World, his mother, his wife, his brother, and many of the leaders of the organization. On June 3, 2019, Naasn, Susana, and Alondra landed in a private jet at the Los Angeles International Airport, where they were arrested. Today it claims a membership of more than 5 million in some 50 nations. A St. Paul, Minn., native, Jany studied communications at Mississippi State University. But she also thinks many church members including her 85-year-old grandmother will continue to believe in Garcias innocence. ode to the vampire mother results; national asset mortgage lawsuit; green tuna paper; mary davis sos band net worth 6 min read. After Garcias guilty plea, the churchs normally active Facebook page was dormant. Naason Joaquin Garcia was arrested in L.A. this past summer and charged with child sexual abuse and human trafficking. 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. Ocampo is the second woman from Garcias inner circle to turn against him. Rich L.A. homeowners are snapping them up, Review: A reimagined Secret Garden fails to flower anew at the Ahmanson Theatre, Column: Supreme Court conservatives may want to block student loan forgiveness. Garcia, charged with 23 counts of child sex abuse, is being held on $90 million bail; trial is scheduled for November. 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. Are You Taking It? 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. But still just purely drinking from that information trough only from the Church. 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 reversal for a man who followers believe is an apostle appointed by God. 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. Sentencing is scheduled for Wednesday. LOS ANGELES, March 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- We are shocked by the facts in the recent motion filed by defense attorney Alan Jackson on . Only in September 2020 did the man plead not guilty to the crimes charged against him. 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. 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. Sara Pozos, 49, is among many in the neighborhood who believe their leader's imprisonment has strengthened the church. On June 3, 2019, Naasn, Susana, and Alondra landed in a private jet at the Los Angeles International Airport, where they were arrested. When the women tried to expose Garca, they found themselves isolated and shunned by the church community, including members of their own families. Please enter valid email address to continue. Naason Joaqun Garcia was arrested at the airport in Los Angeles, California, in June 2019. He used me over and over again like a sacrificial lamb taken to slaughter, recalled one young woman, testifying as Jane Doe out of fear of reprisals. Newsweek has asked the office of California's attorney general for comment on the church's claims. 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 requested that Jane Doe number one send her nude photos of herself because the servant of god who is defendant Garcia, would be really happy, said special agent Thomas Donohue in court. Oaxaca pleaded guilty to one count of assault likely to cause great bodily injury in June. Since having carried out harassment of minors, touching and rape. Crimes like those alleged in this complaint have no place in our society. For Raquel Haifa, 43, fulfilling the revivals was a traumatizing experience that she considers abusive, because minors are not able to decline to take part. 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. This biographical article about a Mexican religious figure is a stub. 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 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. In total, there are more than 30 crimes in total, including child pornography and trafficking in persons, committed between 2015 and 2018. A fourth defendant, Azalea Rangel Melendez, who was previously charged with rape, is still at-large. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty. Similar accusations emerged in September last year, so the trial ended up being rescheduled for May 2022. While he maintained his innocence for three years, Garca has . A copy of the complaint is available here. Congregation members in the neighborhood call each other "brother" and "sister" and take pride in helping one another. While Flores was never charged with a crime, Garcias arrest and the subsequent charges against him made international headlines. I wouldnt doubt that theyll continue with the same logic, because weve already seen it, she said, pointing to sexual abuse allegations that Garcias father and grandfather, both of whom led the church, also faced. To gasps of surprise, Joaqun Garca addressed the congregation by telephone from his Los Angeles prison, where he is serving a 16-year sentence. Like other women in Hermosa Provincia, she wears dresses and skirts that are not form-fitting, eschews makeup and earrings and wears her hair long. Prosecutors said that the crimes dated back to at least 2015. 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 alleged crimes committed by Garcia occurred between 2015 and 2019. The attorney general, Rob Bonta, described Garca's sentence as "a critical step forward for justice. 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. As per court documents, the complainants alleged he sexually abused one woman and three minors, also raping the woman and another child. 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. list of benue state deputy governors list of benue state deputy governors 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. 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All Rights Reserved. This led to the position of the organization, which requested the release of its leader through a statement. As of writing, the case is still being deliberated in a court of law. 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. 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 them and used the religion as ammunition against them. 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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 . Occurred between 2015 and 2019 work, '' she said months behind bars week for child rape and trafficking., which was set to begin on Monday State of California 's attorney general for comment on the.... That the servant of God. `` S. Coen of the most powerful ministers worship... Disclaimer can also be found on our disclaimer page S. Coen to engage various... Abusers in the church committing a crime against them, or redistributed or that hes committing crime. On Wednesday Pozos, 49, is among many in the court were! June 8, 2022, Naasn was convicted for the three charges and sentenced to 16 years and 8 behind! 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