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. Naason Joaquin Garcia was arrested in L.A. this past summer and charged with child sexual abuse and human trafficking. Or to keep it anonymous, click here. Susana Medina Oaxaca appears in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Friday, June 21, 2019. 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. Have a tip or story idea? 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. But in court they called him "evil" and a "monster," "disgusting human waste" and the "antichrist. Thus, all we know is shes a Mexican native and a mother of three; she and her husband share Adoram Joaqun Zamora, Elda Joaqun Zamora, and Sibma Joaqun Zamora together all now adults. I said She was only 14 and you replied I should have brought her to you sooner., In pronouncing his sentence, the judge criticized those who had turned their backs on the victims, saying Shame, shame on you., But none of that seemed to deter his followers and church leaders who claimed the prosecutions evidence was doctored and altered, as they reiterated their support for the man they call their Apostle. A statement from church leaders following the sentencing stated our confidence in him remains intact, comparing his prosecution to a path that God has placed in front of him for a reason, as he did for Apostle Paul.. After the court determined he was a flight risk, Garcia's been held without . 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. The defendant has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Nevertheless, there are former members who say their ceremony was not optional. 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. 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. Prosecutors said that the crimes dated back to at least 2015. Most teachings translate into something quotidian. The Office of the Attorney General is unable to guarantee the accuracy of this translation and is therefore not liable for any inaccurate information resulting from the translation application tool. Garcia is said to have coerced girls in his congregation to engage in various sex acts over the years. 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. "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.". 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. [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. 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. 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. The state of California refiled charges against Megachurch leader Naasn Joaqun Garca last week for child rape and human trafficking. Do not translate text that appears unreliable or low-quality. Many news outlets in Mexico featured Garcias guilty plea on their homepages Friday evening, including the online website Animal Politico and newspaper El Universal. Faithful attend a Santa Cena or Holy Supper service in the La Luz del Mundo or the Light of the World flagship temple in Guadalajara, Mexico, Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Martin, a former church member, told the Law&Crime Network how she was then coerced into helping to recruit other young women and participated in the taping of lurid sex scenes involving the teens and Garcia. Oaxaca pleaded guilty to one count of assault likely to cause great bodily injury on Friday also. 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. The case against him came as a result of a tip in 2018 to a U.S. Justice Department website that was created to help people report abuse by clergy. Sentencing is scheduled for Wednesday. "I did cry, because I was saying, 'God, deliver me from this, make this time pass quickly,'" Haifa said from Texas. The church was founded in 1926 by Garcias grandfather, who was succeeded by Garcias father, Samuel Joaquin Flores. On the other hand, a 19-page complaint was filed in court against Naasn by five unnamed victims. [6] On June 8, 2022, he was convicted and sentenced to 16 years and 8 months in prison. This led to the position of the organization, which requested the release of its leader through a statement. 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. Emailus. [emailprotected]. 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. 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. A copy of the complaint is available here. And NOW is the time to stand up and fight.. 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. 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. 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. Sochil Martin, a former La Luz del Mundo member who has filed a civil RICO suit against Garcaand LLDM alleging sexual abuse and other crimes, was highly critical of the plea deal, and compared the church to a mafia-type organization that would continue to operate despite Garcas imprisonment. After Garcias guilty plea, the churchs normally active Facebook page was dormant. 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. Naason Joaquin Garcia, leader of La Luz del Mundo church, in court in Los Angeles in 2020. Read More: Where is Naasn Joaqun Garcia Now? Congregation members in the neighborhood call each other "brother" and "sister" and take pride in helping one another. They described him as "evil," a "monster," "disgusting human waste" and the "Antichrist. 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. If you have any questions please contact: Bilingual Services Program at (916) 210-7580. Authorities continue to search for a fourth suspect, Azalea Rangel Melendez. ", First published on September 19, 2022 / 8:20 AM. "SHAME, SHAME ON YOU!": California judge scolds families for abandoning sexual abuse survivors before sentencing self-declared "apostle" Naasn Joaqun Garc. He is the third apostle of the congregation after succeeding his father Samuel in power after his death on December 14, 2014. Todays decision demonstrates, as we have always said, that the Apostle is innocent and his innocence will be judicially proven through the course of the trial a Church spokesperson said in a written statement to Brian Ross Investigates. Sept. 19, 2022 11:27 AM PT Naasn Joaqun Garca, head of the Mexico-based La Luz del Mundo megachurch, pleaded guilty in June to sexually abusing girls from his congregation and was sentenced to. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Ahead of the baptism, in a ritual known as "the revivals," children undergo days of prayer and fasting inside a temple. 6 min read. Near the end of the call, Joaqun Garca asked his followers to raise their hands and their voices to God and repeat after him: "I promise you, Lord, that whatever the suffering, I will never abandon you.". Earlier this year, Sochil Martin, who grew up in the Church in southern California, filed a civil lawsuit against Garcia and the church, describing how she had been recruited at the age of nine and became a sex slave for both Garcias fatherthe previous Apostleand then Garcia. It is important to note that criminal charges are only allegations against a person. 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? Three female church members also have been charged with various offenses. A St. Paul, Minn., native, Jany studied communications at Mississippi State University. [2], He continues to be named as Legal Representative of the church in Mexico in spite of having been convicted of child sex crimes. 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. Its always somebody elses fault.. Biblical verses are cited to explain behavior. 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. "Knowing that these abuses took place there, in my happy place, in my safe place, is horrible," she said. 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. Fugitive in $18 million COVID fraud scheme extradited to U.S. RFK killer Sirhan Sirhan denied parole by California board, Ex-Georgia star Jalen Carter was racing in deadly crash, arrest warrants allege, Where things stand in the Alex Murdaugh double murder trial. Newsweek has asked the office of California's attorney general for comment on the church's claims. We should mention that according to Vice, apart from Naasn, his family has also faced accusations of sexual abuse against minors. A fourth defendant, Azalea Rangel Melendez, who was previously charged with rape, is still at-large. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Since having carried out harassment of minors, touching and rape. 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. They had once been his most devoted servants. Earlier in 2020, a former La Luz Del Mundo church member, Sochil Martin, sued the church and its leaders. Bail was set at a stunning $25 million for Naason Joaquin . A lot of people have the expectation that once there was a guilty verdict, whether it be through trial, whether it be through pleading guilty, that loved ones and family members would wake up to the truth. Flores died in 2014 and passed the mantle of apostle on to Garcia. The California Department of Justice arrested Garcia and two other members of the church, Susana Medina Oaxaca and Alondra Ocampo, in 2019. Garcias lawyers didnt immediately return requests for comment; a church spokesman had no immediate comment. In addition to his prison time, Garcia is expected to be ordered to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. 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 church's doctrine is learned from the cradle. This is actually despite the fact he was born as the fifth of seven children to Samuel Joaqun Flores (his predecessor) and Eva Garca Lpez in May 1969 in the Mexican city of Guadalajara, Jalisco. They prayed, they talked to journalists, they protested their leaders innocence. It seems clear that many members of the church, founded in Mexico in 1926 and now active in many countries, aren't ready to abandon Joaqun Garca as their "apostle" - the term used for the church's leader. 2022 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. The arrests and charges announced today were the result of an investigation initiated by the California Department of Justice. 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. Speaking on a podcast called "I Left a Sect," Lo-ami Salazar said Hermosa Provincia used to be her "happy place.". He called Garca a sexual predator. "For us everything is very nice, everything continues to work," she said. Please enter valid email address to continue. The revival consists of repeating "Glory to Christ" nonstop until the youths are heard speaking in tongues to testify that the Holy Spirit has entered them. by CNS June 8, 2022. "He used me over and over again like a sacrificial lamb taken to slaughter. Garcia, charged with 23 counts of child sex abuse, is being held on $90 million bail; trial is scheduled for November. On June 3, 2019, Naasn, Susana, and Alondra landed in a private jet at the Los Angeles International Airport, where they were arrested. Period, said Attorney General Becerra. Posted on 26 Feb in greenshield pharmacy intervention codes. Efforts to fight human trafficking have also included taking on labor exploitation. To gasps of surprise, Joaqun Garca addressed the congregation by telephone from his Los Angeles prison, where he is serving a 16-year sentence. La Luz del Mundo is sometimes described as evangelical, but its members do not embrace this term. Offenders and people accused of molesting children always have a difficult time in prison. In exchange, prosecutors dropped 16 counts that included allegations of raping children and women, as well as human trafficking to produce child pornography. We will hold you accountable if you break the law, Atty. 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. . And still the bishops and the hierarchy are lying to the members. [9] He will soon face a civil trial for such crimes as human trafficking and forced labor. Before joining The Times in 2018, he covered city news and state politics at the Hartford Courant. [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. 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. Only the rare defendant like Naasn Joaqun Garcia should be locked up before trial, and most should be released without money bail. This included allegations of human trafficking, production of child pornography, forcible rape of a minor, and other felonies. 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. While Flores was never charged with a crime, Garcias arrest and the subsequent charges against him made international headlines. Ruiz told The Associated Press that his family has belonged to La Luz del Mundo for three generations. 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. Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times via AP, Pool, Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. ", 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. Naasn Joaqun Garca leads a service at his church "La Luz del Mundo" in Guadalajara, Mexico on Aug. 9, 2018. In 2014, he succeeded his father as the new leader AKA the Apostle of the La Luz del Mundo. Prosecutors said that the crimes dated back to at least 2015. If possible, verify the text with references provided in the foreign-language article. On June 8, 2022, Naasn was convicted for the three charges and sentenced to 16 years and 8 months behind bars. https://t.co/nTcxEFtidU. #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. Garcia, 53, had publicly maintained his innocence for years. After La Luz Del Mundo megachurch leader Naasn Joaqun Garca was sentenced Wednesday to 16 years and 8 months in prison, the Law&Crime Network's Brian Ross. She said she does not think the plea deal will result in a total crisis for the institution.. My heart goes out to all those affected by the horrific actions brought to light during this case. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. 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 . Said parishioner Robert Pelegreen at the time: When David was going to fight Goliath, it looked like he was going to lose. He is currently charged on more than 30 counts, including possession of child pornography, human trafficking, sexual abuse of minors and extortion. 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? 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. / CBS/AP. 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. Naasn Joaqun Garca, the leader of La Luz del Mundo, pleaded guilty to two counts of forcible oral copulation involving minors and one count of a lewd act on a child who was 15. 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. Or to keep it anonymous, click here. 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. Only in September 2020 did the man plead not guilty to the crimes charged against him. 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. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. We reiterate that his procedural and constitutional rights must remain in force, such as the presumption of innocence and the right to due process, as well as the right to be judged impartially and without bias. the spokesman said. The attorney general of California, Xavier Becerra, has even said that he is a madman. The leader, of the Church of Light, today behind bars of a prison in California, is accused, along with three accomplices, of multiple crimes. On June 3, 2019, Naasn, Susana, and Alondra landed in a private jet at the Los Angeles International Airport, where they were arrested. 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. Sexual assault is never acceptable. World Crime Sexual abuse. 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