";s:4:"text";s:21643:"This was all Naasons doing.. 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. "Instead of protecting those innocent women, Naasn and the church fostered and then brutally preyed on their blind trust and allegiance in the 'Apostle'". And it shouldnt be, the lawyer continued. "I think it changed for the better in the sense that now we feel more united, and we feel more empowered," she said. 13,512 Alert: Alzheimer's-Like Memory Loss Has Been Linked To This Common Pill 25,161 These Banks Pay Up To 17X The National Average On Your Savings 33,426 Sponsored Ad 8/21/2022, 2:19:28 AM By Khaleda Rahman On 6/9/22 at 4:57 AM EDT. Ahead of the baptism, in a ritual known as "the revivals," children undergo days of prayer and fasting inside a temple. So, if youre interested in finding out about Naasns current whereabouts and how he was apprehended, heres what we know about the same! 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. 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 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. Theyve always supported this pedophile, this rapist, this criminal, and who himself just confessed that he was a pedophile. Naasn became involved with the churchs activities at a young age and served as a minister in several other congregations across California and Arizona. 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. naason joaquin garcia released naason joaquin garcia released. Authorities have yet to locate the third woman, Azalea Rangel Melendez. 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. Read More: Where is Naasn Joaqun Garcia Now? In 2014, he succeeded his father as the new leader AKA the Apostle of the La Luz del Mundo. Not just that, the complaint detailed how the victims were reportedly forced to perform sexual acts and dances in minimal clothing for their Apostle. After Garcias guilty plea, the churchs normally active Facebook page was dormant. Newsweek has asked the office of California's attorney general for comment on the church's claims. Naasn Joaqun Garca leads a service at his church "La Luz del Mundo" in Guadalajara, Mexico on Aug. 9, 2018. 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. Do not translate text that appears unreliable or low-quality. 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. Times staff writers Jany and Ormseth reported from Los Angeles, Miller from Mexico City. 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. They prayed, they talked to journalists, they protested their leaders innocence. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Garcia has been in jail for nearly three years awaiting trial, since state prosecutors charged him with abusing girls who belonged to his Mexico-based megachurch. 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. 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. "He used me over and over again like a sacrificial lamb taken to slaughter. ", First published on September 19, 2022 / 8:20 AM. 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. There are apparently video clips of them engaging in such atrocious acts, some of which even go as far as to include extreme incest. 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. 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. 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. Congregation members in the neighborhood call each other "brother" and "sister" and take pride in helping one another. [1] Early life [ edit] But she also thinks many church members including her 85-year-old grandmother will continue to believe in Garcias innocence. [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. Please consult with a translator for accuracy if you are relying on the translation or are using this site for official business. Garcia, charged with 23 counts of child sex abuse, is being held on $90 million bail; trial is scheduled for November. 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. [8], He was transferred to North Kern State Prison for evaluations to determine his placement within the prison system. 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. 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. The Associated Press contributed to this report. June 8, 2022 / 3:01 PM [6] On June 8, 2022, he was convicted and sentenced to 16 years and 8 months in prison. 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. [7], Susana Medina Oaxaca and Alondra Ocampo were also charged. 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. During services, the women sit to the right and men to the left. 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. 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. 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. Speaking on a podcast called "I Left a Sect," Lo-ami Salazar said Hermosa Provincia used to be her "happy place.". Last year, Attorney General Becerrahelped bring downthe worlds largest online brothel, Backpage.com, and convicted its CEO. The home base of the church is the Guadalajara neighborhood of Hermosa Provincia, Spanish for "beautiful province." ", 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. 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. She has pleaded guilty to four counts as part of a deal in 2020. The leader of a Mexico-based evangelical megachurch has been sentenced to over 16 years in prison after pleading guilty to three sex-related counts involving minors. They were suspected of committing 26 felonies in Los Angeles County between 2015 and 2018. Leila Miller is a foreign correspondent for the Los Angeles Times based in Mexico City. 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. Naasn Joaqun Garcia, 53, faces more than 16 years in state prison and . 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. Gen. Said parishioner Robert Pelegreen at the time: When David was going to fight Goliath, it looked like he was going to lose. 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. In a major set back for the defense of Nasson Joaquin Garcia, his co-defendant, Alondra Ocampo, has pleaded guilty to four felony counts involving the sexual abuse of minors and is now prepared to testify against him at trial in California. This page was last edited on 27 January 2023, at 01:49. 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. World Crime Sexual abuse. The church was founded in 1926 by Garcias grandfather, who was succeeded by Garcias father, Samuel Joaquin Flores. He is currently charged on more than 30 counts, including possession of child pornography, human trafficking, sexual abuse of minors and extortion. "The church weaponized the faith of their most vulnerable members," said Jonati Joey Yedidsion, one of the lawyers handling the lawsuit. But theyve hit a snag, Randall Emmett, Ambyr Childers settle domestic violence restraining order dispute, California ski resorts brace for an epic weekend of snow, crowds and disruptions, An assault and fatal stabbing in the middle of class at a Santa Rosa high school, With unfounded fraud claims swirling, red California county dumps Dominion voting machines, Man arrested in connection to 7 bombings in Fresno has links to hate group, authorities say, Vote on LAPD transit patrols sparks City Hall debate over safety on Metro system, UCLA, UCSF hospital nurses voice complaints about overcrowding, staffing shortages. 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. Where Are Naasn Joaqun Garcia's Wife and Kids Now? 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. Have a tip or story idea? LOS ANGELES, March 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- We are shocked by the facts in the recent motion filed by defense attorney Alan Jackson on . In exchange, prosecutors dropped 16 counts that included allegations of raping children and women, as well as human trafficking to produce child pornography. 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. "I just want to tell the Jane Does that the world has heard you," the judge said, according to the Los Angeles Times. State prison and of California 's attorney general for comment on the church founded. Spanish for `` beautiful province. were also charged and 2018 & # x27 ; Wife... 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