Currently, journalists are not allowed to attend services or take photographs inside the church's temples. The bail to be able to leave is 50 million dollars, one of the highest in history. [9] He will soon face a civil trial for such crimes as human trafficking and forced labor. 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. 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. 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. [emailprotected]. As for their professional standing, while Alma allegedly serves as a social worker, Adoram has been linked to the Mexican soccer promotional league. So, if youre interested in finding out about Naasns current whereabouts and how he was apprehended, heres what we know about the same! Her attorney previously told The Times that Ocampo herself suffered years of sexual abuse in the church when she was a minor. My heart goes out to all those affected by the horrific actions brought to light during this case. 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. ", Garca "will continue ministering to the church," the statement said. 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. The arrests and charges announced today were the result of an investigation initiated by the California Department of Justice. 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? / CBS/AP. Theyve always supported this pedophile, this rapist, this criminal, and who himself just confessed that he was a pedophile. The attorney general, Rob Bonta, described Garca's sentence as "a critical step forward for justice. On the other hand, a 19-page complaint was filed in court against Naasn by five unnamed victims. She will be sentenced at a later date. The church's doctrine is learned from the cradle. Earlier in 2020, a former La Luz Del Mundo church member, Sochil Martin, sued the church and its leaders. To gasps of surprise, Joaqun Garca addressed the congregation by telephone from his Los Angeles prison, where he is serving a 16-year sentence. 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. Earlier Friday, victims asked a judge to reject the plea deal or sentence the defendant to a far longer prison term. Ruiz told The Associated Press that his family has belonged to La Luz del Mundo for three generations. 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. Only in September 2020 did the man plead not guilty to the crimes charged against him. She claimed facing decades of abuse at the hands of the leaders, including Naasn and his late father, Samuel Joaqun Flores. 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. [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. They bless the bread, the wine, and do other things as if he were here, although physically he is not.". This is a man who has committed atrocities in the name of God, in the name of this church and everything is an excuse. 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. First published on June 8, 2022 / 3:01 PM. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. 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. 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. 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. She was accused of grooming teenage girls for Garcias sexual pleasure. 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.. Naason Joaquin Garcia was arrested in L.A. this past summer and charged with child sexual abuse and human trafficking. Church member Alondra Ocampo was expected to testify against him. Ahead of the baptism, in a ritual known as "the revivals," children undergo days of prayer and fasting inside a temple. Spanning the main street is a sculpture spelling "innocent" in Spanish. Most teachings translate into something quotidian. From the walls hang photographs of Joaqun Garca, smiling and wearing a tuxedo. Naason Joaqun Garcia was arrested at the airport in Los Angeles, California, in June 2019. International Director of the La Luz del Mundo Church, "Naasn Merar Joaqun Garca: El "apstol" del poder", "Es Naasn Joaqun Garca, nuevo lder de La Luz del Mundo", "La Luz del Mundo Church Leader Accused of Sex Crimes", "Leader of La Luz Del Mundo religious group arrested on suspicion of rape, child porn", "Sex abuse charges against La Luz del Mundo leader are the 'tip of the iceberg,' prosecutors say", "La Luz del Mundo church leader pleads guilty to sex abuse charges", "Mexican megachurch leader gets more than 16 years for abuse", "Child rape charges refiled against Mexican megachurch leader", https://www.paudal.com/2022/08/18/the-light-of-the-world-naason-joaquin-is-changed-from-jail-for-this-reason/, "Leader of Mexican Church Is Sentenced to 16 Years for Sex Crimes", "Naasn Joaqun Garca: quin es lder de La Luz del Mundo (biografa)", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Naasn_Joaqun_Garca&oldid=1135821281. Im sure hell survive but I doubt it will be happy. [1] Early life [ edit] Not just that, the complaint detailed how the victims were reportedly forced to perform sexual acts and dances in minimal clothing for their Apostle. 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. Many lifted their fists. 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. When the women tried to expose Garca, they found themselves isolated and shunned by the church community, including members of their own families. ", Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. Efforts to fight human trafficking have also included taking on labor exploitation. For some young people, these steps include memorizing songs honoring the apostle, reading the Bible before bed and not marrying someone from outside the church. After Garcias guilty plea, the churchs normally active Facebook page was dormant. The church says it has congregations in all 50 American states. They allegedly were told that if they went against Garcias desires they were going against God. 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. In this case, the court set bail for Joaqun Garca at $25 million. "SHAME, SHAME ON YOU!": California judge scolds families for abandoning sexual abuse survivors before sentencing self-declared "apostle" Naasn Joaqun Garc. They go along with it because they think its a blessing. The home base of the church is the Guadalajara neighborhood of Hermosa Provincia, Spanish for "beautiful province." Judge Ronald Coens harsh view of Garcafollowed hours of emotional and graphic testimony in a Los Angeles courtroom Wednesday from five of Garcas young female victims, who broke down in tears as they described years of sexual abuse, rape and forced servitude by the sects top religious leader. Oaxaca pleaded guilty to one count of assault likely to cause great bodily injury in June. In 2014, he succeeded his father as the new leader AKA the Apostle of the La Luz del Mundo. Naasn was revered among his church community, but things came crashing down around 2019 when he and two of his associates, Susana Medina Oaxaca and Alondra Ocampo, came under the polices radar. With Naasns grandfather Aaron Joaquin Gonzalez having established La Luz Del Mundo in 1926 and him being a third-generation heir, its honestly no surprise hed gained worldwide notoriety. Crimes like those alleged in this complaint have no place in our society. It is Mexicos largest evangelical church and has branches in 50 countries, including churches in East and West Los Angeles. 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. Garcia, 53, had publicly maintained his innocence for years. 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. Prosecutors said that the crimes dated back to at least 2015. This Google translation feature is provided for informational purposes only. 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. Period, said Attorney General Becerra. 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. It is important to note that criminal charges are only allegations against a person. A megachurch has defended its leader after he was sentenced to more than 16 years in a California prison for sexually abusing . 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. "I worshipped my abuser," said a woman who described herself as his niece. 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 apostle always shows determination to move forward," said Phares Ruiz, who traveled from El Salvador to attend the Holy Supper. 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. Please enter valid email address to continue. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty. In some cities, people tithe more than 10% of their monthly income to the church. 0 . 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. The church was founded in 1926 by Garcias grandfather, who was succeeded by Garcias father, Samuel Joaquin Flores. "Ministers, pastors and deacons have their same duties. 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.. This included allegations of human trafficking, production of child pornography, forcible rape of a minor, and other felonies. 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. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 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. 2022 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Have a tip we should know? Naasn Joaqun Garca leads a service at his church "La Luz del Mundo" in Guadalajara, Mexico on Aug. 9, 2018. Christopher Kellermeyer, whose wife Alondra Ocampo was charged with being Garcas accomplice by acting as a groomer, said Garcas followers would not be easily persuaded of his guilt. "For us everything is very nice, everything continues to work," she said. 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. 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. 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 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. 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. She said she does not think the plea deal will result in a total crisis for the institution.. 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. 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. 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. They had once been his most devoted servants. 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. 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. Its unclear whether the latters work involves him marketing a team or sponsoring them, but we do know he appears perfectly content at the moment. Emailus. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. 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? 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. The survivors had objected to the plea deal and said they had only found out about it at the last minute. He was sentenced to more than 16 years after making a plea deal. A copy of this disclaimer can also be found on our Disclaimer page. If possible, verify the text with references provided in the foreign-language article. I know how hard it is for them to see Naason like a normal person that also does bad things, she said. This was all Naasons doing.. Similar accusations emerged in September last year, so the trial ended up being rescheduled for May 2022. Read More: Where is Naasn Joaqun Garcia Now? 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.". [3][4][5] Two days before his trial, Naasn Joaqun Garcia pleaded guilty to three charges related to sexually abusing children. HBOs Unveiled: Surviving La Luz Del Mundo peeks behind the closed doors of the Mexican Christian megachurch La Luz Del Mundo and sheds light on the rampant sexual abuse faced by several minors by the church leaders. 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. 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. In total, there are more than 30 crimes in total, including child pornography and trafficking in persons, committed between 2015 and 2018. Los Angeles defendant to a far longer prison term hands of the leaders, including churches East. `` La Luz del Mundo for three generations Garcias guilty plea, the court set for... Several hours, the court set bail for Joaqun Garca, smiling and wearing tuxedo. The other hand, a former La Luz del Mundo '' in Guadalajara, Mexico on Aug. 9,.! 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