Not just that, the complaint detailed how the victims were reportedly forced to perform sexual acts and dances in minimal clothing for their Apostle. The suit was filed by five women who - under the pseudonym Jane Doe - were identified as victims in the original criminal charges against him. Have a tip or story idea? They had once been his most devoted servants. 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. [12]. Even outside the temple, the sound of his voice stirred emotions among dozens of devotees guarding entries to the sanctuary. "He used me over and over again like a sacrificial lamb taken to slaughter.". One commenter speculated about whether the terms of the plea deal might call for Garcia to out other alleged abusers in the church. 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. 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. Garcia, charged with 23 counts of child sex abuse, is being held on $90 million bail; trial is scheduled for November. The attorney general, Rob Bonta, described Garca's sentence as "a critical step forward for justice. [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. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. "He's firm in his convictions, and the church is firm as well in its purpose of moving forward.". It is important to note that criminal charges are only allegations against a person. 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. "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. After the court determined he was a flight risk, Garcia's been held without . In some cities, people tithe more than 10% of their monthly income to the church. Susana Medina Oaxaca appears in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Friday, June 21, 2019. Aarn's wife was the church's first member. "Instead of protecting those innocent women, Naasn and the church fostered and then brutally preyed on their blind trust and allegiance in the 'Apostle'". In addition to his prison time, Garcia is expected to be ordered to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. To gasps of surprise, Joaqun Garca addressed the congregation by telephone from his Los Angeles prison, where he is serving a 16-year sentence. We will hold you accountable if you break the law, Atty. It is unclear what his guilty admission will mean for the megachurch with international reach, and whether it will force the kind of larger reckoning over abuse and decades-long cover-ups that has swept the Catholic Church. Last year, Attorney General Becerrahelped bring downthe worlds largest online brothel, Backpage.com, and convicted its CEO. The California Department of Justice arrested Garcia and two other members of the church, Susana Medina Oaxaca and Alondra Ocampo, in 2019. Congregation members in the neighborhood call each other "brother" and "sister" and take pride in helping one another. 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. Gen. 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. And still the bishops and the hierarchy are lying to the members. 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. A copy of this disclaimer can also be found on our Disclaimer page. 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. 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? As for their professional standing, while Alma allegedly serves as a social worker, Adoram has been linked to the Mexican soccer promotional league. 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. ", Garca "will continue ministering to the church," the statement said. [emailprotected]. This Google translation feature is provided for informational purposes only. Los Angeles, A $150,000 executive protection dog? She said she expects more will decide to leave because of the guilty plea. 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. Todays conviction sends a clear message that sexual exploitation is never acceptable in California. "You have to follow certain steps to prove your loyalty.". 6 min read. Many believe he was sent by God to preach to them and are convinced he is innocent, despite his guilty plea. Outraged by what they saw as a lenient sentence for La Luz del Mundo leader Naason Joaquin Garcia, a group is urging other victims to speak out. 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. [9] He will soon face a civil trial for such crimes as human trafficking and forced labor. One remains on the run, while another has agreed to testify against Garcia, saying she herself was abused. The latter was the leader of the La Luz del Mundo church (translated to Church of the Living God), a non-trinitarian Christian organization founded in 1926. 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. Before joining the Los Angeles Times in 2022, he covered public safety for the Star Tribune in Minneapolis. The defendant has pleaded not guilty to the charges. First published on June 8, 2022 / 3:01 PM. "I just want to tell the Jane Does that the world has heard you," the judge said, according to the Los Angeles Times. Before joining The Times in 2018, he covered city news and state politics at the Hartford Courant. Nevertheless, there are former members who say their ceremony was not optional. [6] On June 8, 2022, he was convicted and sentenced to 16 years and 8 months in prison. Or to keep it anonymous, click here. The arrests and charges announced today were the result of an investigation initiated by the California Department of Justice. 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. Most teachings translate into something quotidian. Its not me thats doing this, this is what God wants you to do, Thiagarajah told Brian Ross. If you see something, report it and we will vigorously pursue justice.. Additionally, Attorney General Becerra testified before the U.S. Senate to push for the passage of the federal Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act, which became law in 2018. 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. And it shouldnt be, the lawyer continued. 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. It should be recalled that just on March 15, a 211-page motion was filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court by defense attorney Alan Jackson, claiming that the California Prosecutor's Office fabricated incriminating evidence, created reports based on false evidence, erased and concealed exculpatory evidence.. [11], He is married to Alma Zamora, and they have three children: Adoram, Elda, Sibma. The grandson of the church's founder, Garca maintained his innocence following his arrest but eventually pleaded guilty in June 2022 to two counts of forcible oral copulation on a minor and one. Many news outlets in Mexico featured Garcias guilty plea on their homepages Friday evening, including the online website Animal Politico and newspaper El Universal. 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. Naason Joaqun Garcia was arrested at the airport in Los Angeles, California, in June 2019. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. "This is a path that God has placed in front of him for a reason, as he did for Apostle Paul.". The conviction comes just days ahead of trial, which was set to begin on Monday. 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. As a documentary series that lives up to its title in every way imaginable, HBOs Unveiled: Surviving La Luz Del Mundo can only be described as equal parts gripping, riveting, as well as haunting. 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. A megachurch has defended its leader after he was sentenced to more than 16 years in a California prison for sexually abusing . 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. 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. She said she does not think the plea deal will result in a total crisis for the institution.. by CNS June 8, 2022. Bail was set at a stunning $25 million for Naason Joaquin . Despite the vast publicity and lurid charges, Garcia had maintained almost universal support within the church. ", First published on September 19, 2022 / 8:20 AM. "The apostle always shows determination to move forward," said Phares Ruiz, who traveled from El Salvador to attend the Holy Supper. 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. Sochil further alleged that her aunt and a foster mother groomed and coerced her into forcibly serving the church leaders. ", They spoke of how they had been manipulated and told they would be damned if they refused. 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. Over several hours, the victims detailed horrific abuse by Garca. 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. A St. Paul, Minn., native, Jany studied communications at Mississippi State University. "I did cry, because I was saying, 'God, deliver me from this, make this time pass quickly,'" Haifa said from Texas. They described him as "evil," a "monster," "disgusting human waste" and the "Antichrist. 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. 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. Garcias lawyers didnt immediately return requests for comment; a church spokesman had no immediate comment. 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. 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. They urged Judge Ronald Coen to impose a longer sentence, but he responded that his "hands are tied" by the agreement. Prosecutors said that the crimes dated back to at least 2015. Garca, 53, received a sentence of 16 years and 8 months in Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday. Joaqun Garca and his co-defendants allegedly committed these crimes between 2015 and 2018 while leading La Luz Del Mundo, an international religious organization headquartered in Mexico with reportedly over one million followers worldwide. They can never accept responsibility for themselves and for their actions. She will be sentenced at a later date. Matthew Ormseth is a reporter for the Los Angeles Times. She was accused of grooming teenage girls for Garcias sexual pleasure. LOS ANGELES, March 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- We are shocked by the facts in the recent motion filed by defense attorney Alan Jackson on . The case has been difficult for some former members who have distanced themselves from the church. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A fourth defendant, Azalea Rangel Melendez, who was previously charged with rape, is still at-large. 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. 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. Earlier Friday, victims asked a judge to reject the plea deal or sentence the defendant to a far longer prison term. According to recent records, Naasn was transferred to the North Kern State Prison in Delano, California, in August 2022. They have power, they have the money, she added. Many organization leaders, including Susana and Alondra, were accused of being the perpetrators. 2022 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. Earlier in 2020, a former La Luz Del Mundo church member, Sochil Martin, sued the church and its leaders. Damian Dovarganes / AP The. 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. Naasn Joaqun Garca in Los Angeles County Superior Court on June 8. 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. 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. 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. Spanning the main street is a sculpture spelling "innocent" in Spanish. Naasn Joaqun Garca leads a service at his church "La Luz del Mundo" in Guadalajara, Mexico on Aug. 9, 2018. Their spiritual leader is behind bars in California after pleading guilty to sexually abusing minors. Naason Joaquin Garcia, the church's leader, a man considered by congregants an apostle of Jesus Christ, had just been sentenced to nearly 17 years in prison for committing acts of sexual abuse . This page was last edited on 27 January 2023, at 01:49. 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[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 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. 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. Crimes like those alleged in this complaint have no place in our society. Although, he denied the charges, including raping and trafficking girls from his congregation. 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