"The apostle always shows determination to move forward," said Phares Ruiz, who traveled from El Salvador to attend the Holy Supper. "I worshipped my abuser," said a woman who described herself as his niece. He initially faced more than 20 charges, but most were dismissed after a plea deal with prosecutors. [6] On June 8, 2022, he was convicted and sentenced to 16 years and 8 months in prison. ", Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. Naason Joaquin Garcia, leader of La Luz del Mundo church, in court in Los Angeles in 2020. Authorities continue to search for a fourth suspect, Azalea Rangel Melendez. This led to the position of the organization, which requested the release of its leader through a statement. A copy of the complaint is available here. Flores died in 2014 and passed the mantle of apostle on to Garcia. The investigation began in 2018, in part, because of information submitted to the California Department of Justice through the clergy abuse online complaint form. "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.". The church's doctrine is learned from the cradle. I know how hard it is for them to see Naason like a normal person that also does bad things, she said. Most teachings translate into something quotidian. When the women tried to expose Garca, they found themselves isolated and shunned by the church community, including members of their own families. This was all Naasons doing.. (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 . Similar accusations emerged in September last year, so the trial ended up being rescheduled for May 2022. 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. 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. The church's media relations office claims there is no crime in the area. Garcia, charged with 23 counts of child sex abuse, is being held on $90 million bail; trial is scheduled for November. . Before joining The Times in 2018, he covered city news and state politics at the Hartford Courant. The KCAL News Staff is a group of experienced journalists who bring you the content on KCALNews.com and CBSLA.com. As a result, he pled guilty to two counts of forcible oral copulation involving minors and one count of a lewd act upon a child who was 15 years old. Or to keep it anonymous, click here. 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. Born on May 7, 1969, in Guadalajara, Mexico, Naasn Joaqun Garcia was the fifth of Mexican church leader Samuel Joaqun Flores eight children. 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. Many lifted their fists. The arrests and charges announced today were the result of an investigation initiated by the California Department of Justice. La Luz del Mundo dissidents seek more charges . A California appeals court ordered the . Gen. Ruiz told The Associated Press that his family has belonged to La Luz del Mundo for three generations. #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. "He's firm in his convictions, and the church is firm as well in its purpose of moving forward.". 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. On Sept. 8 a lawsuit was filed in California against Joaqun Garca and four church members alleged to be complicit in the sex abuse. Todays conviction sends a clear message that sexual exploitation is never acceptable in California. They can never accept responsibility for themselves and for their actions. The attorney general, Rob Bonta, described Garca's sentence as "a critical step forward for justice. Even outside the temple, the sound of his voice stirred emotions among dozens of devotees guarding entries to the sanctuary. 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. He called Garca a sexual predator. 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. The alleged crimes committed by Garcia occurred between 2015 and 2019. By Khaleda Rahman On 6/9/22 at 4:57 AM EDT. His unexpected plea change came during an unannounced hearing Friday, which was only disclosed after the fact in a news release. "I think it changed for the better in the sense that now we feel more united, and we feel more empowered," she said. 0 . 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 Raquel Haifa, 43, fulfilling the revivals was a traumatizing experience that she considers abusive, because minors are not able to decline to take part. Garcia, 53, had publicly maintained his innocence for years. 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. Prosecutors said that the crimes dated back to at least 2015. 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. "I just want to tell the Jane Does that the world has heard you," the judge said, according to the Los Angeles Times. 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? "It is not sufficient to say 'I have converted' or "I have baptized'" she said. 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. 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. She will be sentenced at a later date. It accuses Joaqun Garca of conditioning victims, under the guise of religion, to serve him above all else, ultimately resulting in the sexual abuse over the course of several years. Some knelt and wept. He is the third apostle of the congregation after succeeding his father Samuel in power after his death on December 14, 2014. LOS ANGELES, March 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- We are shocked by the facts in the recent motion filed by defense attorney Alan Jackson on . Born in Argentina but raised in Los Angeles, Miller is a graduate of Oberlin College and Columbia Universitys School of Journalism. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Only in September 2020 did the man plead not guilty to the crimes charged against him. 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. Damian Dovarganes / AP The. 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. After Fridays unexpected plea, he will instead face sentencing Wednesday. June 8, 2022 / 3:01 PM 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. Nearly all closed their eyes. Church member Alondra Ocampo was expected to testify against him. They had once been his most devoted servants. 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. It is Mexicos largest evangelical church and has branches in 50 countries, including churches in East and West Los Angeles. The conviction comes just days ahead of trial, which was set to begin on Monday. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty. This Google translation feature is provided for informational purposes only. In September of the same year, he reportedly addressed his congregation via a phone call behind bars. 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. #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. 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. 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. We will hold you accountable if you break the law, Atty. 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. 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. After Garcias guilty plea, the churchs normally active Facebook page was dormant. Do not translate text that appears unreliable or low-quality. Aarn's wife was the church's first member. 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? Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. As for their professional standing, while Alma allegedly serves as a social worker, Adoram has been linked to the Mexican soccer promotional league. So far he remains imprisoned in the United States. Congregation members in the neighborhood call each other "brother" and "sister" and take pride in helping one another. "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," the church said. 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. March 21, 2022 17:02 ET | Source: The Light of the World. 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. 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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. She claimed facing decades of abuse at the hands of the leaders, including Naasn and his late father, Samuel Joaqun Flores. It is important to note that criminal charges are only allegations against a person. On June 3, 2019, Naasn, Susana, and Alondra landed in a private jet at the Los Angeles International Airport, where they were arrested. This is a man who has committed atrocities in the name of God, in the name of this church and everything is an excuse. Jericho, Bethlehem and Nazareth are among the names of roads converging on the white temple that locals call "the cake," for its white tiers that diminish in size as they rise upward. 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. Earlier in 2020, a former La Luz Del Mundo church member, Sochil Martin, sued the church and its leaders. "You have to follow certain steps to prove your loyalty.". His plea deal came after five young womenonce devoted followers of the church founded by Garca's grandfather in Mexico nearly a century agotestified that he had made them his sex slaves. 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. Wednesday, June 8, 2022 Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov OAKLAND - California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued a statement on the nearly 17-year prison sentence imposed by the court for Naasn Joaqun Garca, the leader of La Luz del Mundo. She joined the newsroom in 2018 and spent several years working on the criminal justice team. However, his wife Alma Zamora de Joaqun, with whom hed tied the knot in 1992, reportedly does not enjoy the same status in any of the 50+ countries wherein the church has a presence. 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. Please enter valid email address to continue. 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. At the California Department of Justice, we will continue to stand up for survivors and fight back against abuse. "I did cry, because I was saying, 'God, deliver me from this, make this time pass quickly,'" Haifa said from Texas. 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. On the other hand, a 19-page complaint was filed in court against Naasn by five unnamed victims. September 19, 2022 / 8:20 AM In total, there are more than 30 crimes in total, including child pornography and trafficking in persons, committed between 2015 and 2018. She was provided by Mrs Ocampo, provided whipped cream, strawberries, lingerie, and the other girl would spray the whipped cream and strawberries on each other and then lick them off, said Special Agent Troy Holmes in court. The defendant has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Many believe he was sent by God to preach to them and are convinced he is innocent, despite his guilty plea. Have a tip we should know? Joaqun Garca was held on $50 million bail, Ocampo on $25 million, and Oaxaca remained free on bail. The church says it has congregations in all 50 American states. In some cities, people tithe more than 10% of their monthly income to the church. Over several hours, the victims detailed horrific abuse by Garca. Sara Pozos, 49, is among many in the neighborhood who believe their leader's imprisonment has strengthened the church. 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. Or to keep it anonymous, click here. 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. People who molest children, this is the kind of mentality they have. 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. / CBS/AP. Their spiritual leader is behind bars in California after pleading guilty to sexually abusing minors. "Instead of protecting those innocent women, Naasn and the church fostered and then brutally preyed on their blind trust and allegiance in the 'Apostle'". Ocampo is the second woman from Garcias inner circle to turn against him. However, the five complainants, addressed as Jane Does in the court, were unhappy with the minimal sentences their aggressors received. God has his plan.. Leila Miller is a foreign correspondent for the Los Angeles Times based in Mexico City. Kriti Mehrotra December 6, 2022 As a documentary series that lives up to its title in every way imaginable, HBO's 'Unveiled: Surviving La Luz Del Mundo' can only be described as equal parts gripping, riveting, as well as haunting. 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