He took a plea deal that dropped 23 sex abuse charges to just three counts of child sex abuse. 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. Garca and Oaxaca were arrested at the Los Angeles International Airport upon arrival into the United States and Ocampo was also arrested separately in Los Angeles County. When he was a famous personality, the family used to live together in California, and the family life of all these individuals was very successful. 2023-01-18T22:10:50.568Z, Yasmine Ateeq A cultural heritage seminar in Kafr Souseh, Damascus  They started to move away from the official places where the media could cover them. 2023-01-18T23:46:40.448Z, Tidiane, 16, stabbed to death in Thiais: four teenagers indicted and imprisoned Efforts to fight human trafficking have also included taking on labor exploitation. 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. According to the suit, the victims said they were routinely coerced since they were children to believe that Garcas wishes were direct orders from God and that if they didnt obey, it would lead to catastrophic consequences including, but not limited to, eternal damnation, unspeakable tragedy, infertility, and countless other harms.. LLDM, which has anywhere from 1 to 5 million followers, was founded in 1926 by Aarn Joaqun Gonzlez in Jalisco, the Mexican state that is known for being the birthplace of tequila. "He's firm in his convictions, and the church is firm as well in its purpose of moving forward.". 2023-01-18T23:16:51.808Z, Barby Franco showed her body a month after the birth of her daughter and received praise: "Finally a famous woman who publishes something real and natural" 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. Garcia is currently in custody in lieu of $50 million bail and co- defendant Alondra Ocampo, 36, is being held on $25 million bail. Details About Democratic US Senator Raphael Warnocks Children And His Win in Georgia Run-off Election, Check Who Is Hakeem Jeffries Wife And Know His Net Worth, Who is Kevin McCarthy Wife? 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. 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. 2023-01-18T23:52:35.912Z, Between essays, biographies and novels: what books will we read in 2023 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. 2023-01-18T21:40:44.687Z, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo meet again: their numbers in the season 2023-01-18T23:22:35.481Z, By 2100 the sea level could rise up to 50 centimeters, according to a study 2023-01-18T23:10:55.786Z, The atrocious methods of organized crime in Ecuador to sow terror Period, said Attorney General Becerra. Please enter valid email address to continue. Naasn Joaqun Garcia was a church leader for a very long time and was a good and famous personality who used to perform good deeds but later on when the actual truth got revealed in 2019, he was directly charged with 20 rape cases there together, and after the investigation by the police officers, proper evidence got to reveal that he was related to these 20 women and salted the women sexually and raped them more than once. An arrest warrant has also been issued for Azalea Rangel Melendez, who is currently at large. Todays conviction is the result of a multiyear investigation and prosecution led by the California Department of Justice. 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. Naason Joaqun Garcia was arrested at the airport in Los Angeles, California, in June 2019. 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. Sara Pozos, 49, is among many in the neighborhood who believe their leader's imprisonment has strengthened the church. (Photo by ULISES RUIZ / AFP via Getty Images), Multiple witnesses came forward during in investigation launched in 2018 by the California Department of Justices Special Prosecutions Section. Spanning the main street is a sculpture spelling "innocent" in Spanish. Find In Detail, A Murder Charge has been Filed Against the Husband of Missing Cohasset Woman Ana Walshe, Who is McClaude Bridges: Suspect who assaulted Ariana Simms is identified as a 66 year Old Man. Explore More In Detail. 2022 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. We will always stand with Californians against injustice.. Not just that, the complaint detailed how the victims were reportedly forced to perform sexual acts and dances in minimal clothing for their Apostle. Castillo, a recently married woman of 25, told AP the church advises members how "to lead a decent life," in which women may not drink alcohol or go out on frequent dates. The bail to be able to leave is 50 million dollars, one of the highest in history. Even outside the temple, the sound of his voice stirred emotions among dozens of devotees guarding entries to the sanctuary. Aarn's wife was the church's first member. The suit was filed by five women who - under the pseudonym Jane Doe - were identified as victims in the original criminal charges against him. La Luz del Mundo is a church that originated in Naasn Joaqun Garca leads a service at his church "La Luz del Mundo" in Guadalajara, Mexico on Aug. 9, 2018. Nevertheless, there are former members who say their ceremony was not optional. 2023-01-18T21:52:39.473Z, CDU politician Kiesewetter blames ex-defense minister Guttenberg for the decline of the Bundeswehr 2023-01-18T21:58:34.026Z, A former Wagner Group mercenary fled to Norway and now reveals explosive secrets of Putin's so-called "chef" This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Alejandra Molina September 13, 2022. 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 John Roger Berg Murder | In what place is Vincent Vinnie Spoto now? 2023-01-18T22:58:40.446Z, What is Cordyceps and what actually causes the fungus mentioned in "The Last of Us"? A copy of the complaint is available here. 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 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. Read Also Joseph Pikul, Murderer of Diane Pikul Now? 2023-01-19T00:04:36.145Z, Who is Keityn, the co-author of the lyrics of Shakira and Bizarrap's hit According to recent records, Naasn was transferred to the North Kern State Prison in Delano, California, in August 2022. The La Luz del Mundo church leader pleaded guilty Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court to two counts of forcible oral copulation involving minors and one count of a lewd act upon Born on May 7, 1969, in Guadalajara, Mexico, Naasn Joaqun Garcia was the fifth of Mexican church leader Samuel Joaqun Flores eight children. Many believe he was sent by God to preach to them and are convinced he is innocent, despite his guilty plea. Joseph Pikul, Murderer of Diane Pikul Now. As the leader of La Luz del Mundo, Naasn Joaqun Garca used his power to take advantage of children. Naasn Joaqun Garca, the leader of a Mexico-based evangelical church with a worldwide membership of more than 1 million appeared with his defense attorneys Ken Rosenfeld 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. 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. All three individuals are associated with La Luz del Mundo. 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. Furthermore, Susana and Alondra pled guilty to the charges against them. 2023-01-18T22:22:50.746Z, Netflix presents a very varied and especially humorous cinematographic menu for 2023 A judge had thrown out four counts of extortion and sentencing enhancements for great bodily injury for lack of evidence. "It has been a very difficult issue, of course, for him and for us," she added. 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. Oaxaca also pleaded guilty today in court and was convicted of assault likely to cause great bodily injury. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. As of writing, the case is still being deliberated in a court of law. She was tasked with sexualizing these girls and facilitating their abuse.. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 2023-01-18T23:28:35.547Z, Hand in hand with the Argentine Dakar champion Kevin Benavides The arrests and charges announced today were the result of an investigation initiated by the California Department of Justice. Their spiritual leader is behind bars in California after pleading guilty to sexually abusing minors. Naasn Joaqun Garca, the leader of Mexican megachurch La Luz del Mundo (Light of the World), was sentenced to 16 years by a Los Angeles judge after pleading guilty to three counts of the sexual abuse of minors in his following. The investigation began in 2018, in part, because of information submitted to the California Department of Justice through the clergy abuse online complaint form. 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. If you have any questions please contact: Bilingual Services Program at (916) 210-7580. Only in September 2020 did the man plead not guilty to the crimes charged against him. 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. (LLDM, which claims a membership of more than 5 million in 50 nations, has locations in East and West Los Angeles, Orange County, and Palm Springs.) The California Department of Justices investigation was supported by several law enforcement agencies, including Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Los Angeles Airport Police. "Ministers, pastors and deacons have their same duties. 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. 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 in a statement to CBS News at the time. His confession came June 3, three days before his trial was scheduled to start. Please consult with a translator for accuracy if you are relying on the translation or are using this site for official business. After that trial that happened in 2019, certain things were not in their favour of him, so in 2019 when the official decision from The laws came, it stated that he would be imprisoned for 16 years. Garcia inherited the office as leader from his father, Samuel Joaquin Flores, who also had sexual assault allegations standing against him, according to DW. The family has already kept silent for a very long time. On June 3, 2019, Naasn, Susana, and Alondra landed in a private jet at the Los Angeles International Airport, where they were arrested. 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 abusers no matter who they are will be held accountable.. In addition, they accused the La Luz Del Mundo church of sexual battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, and gender violence, seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. Ocampo pleaded guilty in 2020 to counts 19, 20, 21, and 33. Many lifted their fists. Has Tension risen Between President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris? The leader of the megachurch was helped by church associates Susana Medina Oaxaca and Alondra Ocampo. 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. Over the course of the investigation and prosecution, prosecutors demonstrated that Garcas criminal conduct was enabled by the individuals surrounding him and that Garca used his position of trust and authority as the leader of La Luz del Mundo to sexually abuse children. For three years she remained monitored by a geolocation device that kept her rooted in her home in San Diego, on the border with Mexico. Apart from Naasn, his mother, wife, brother, and children were named in the lawsuit for being aware of the abuse. Despite the conviction, Garcas followers pledged to stand by him. 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. 2023-01-18T22:22:45.283Z, TikTok, banned from government devices in more than half of US states. Nassn Joaqun continues to be the leader of La Luz del Mundo church and one of the most powerful ministers of worship in Mexico. Biblical verses are cited to explain behavior. They had once been his most devoted servants. 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. 2023-01-18T23:17:02.633Z, With a reflection, Isabel Macedo responded to those who questioned her daughter's body After the imprisonment of her husband, she has already tried to protect her kids from protecting them from any particular problems they are supposed to face for whatever their father did with another woman. In 2014, he succeeded his father as the new leader AKA the Apostle of the La Luz del Mundo. In addition to Joaqun Garca, Alondra Ocampo and Susana Medina Oaxaca were also arrested. Prosecutors said that the crimes dated back to at least 2015. December 6, 2022. 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Wade, Best treadmills for your for your home gym in 2023, plus deals, Philadelphia Flyers' Ivan Provorov refuses to wear LGBTQ+ Pride Night jersey, Rapper Flo Rida awarded $83M in fight with energy drink maker, Schools struggle to provide meals for kids as inflation sends food costs soaring, Why a medical exam may be required for life insurance, 3 times to increase your life insurance coverage, Megachurch leader gets over 16 years for abuse, Mexican megachurch leader gets over 16 years in prison for sexual abuse. Pled guilty to the charges against them at large and deacons have their same duties La... The abuse in its purpose of moving forward. `` is the result of a multiyear and... Garca, Alondra Ocampo and Susana Medina Oaxaca were also arrested family already... To the sanctuary were named in the lawsuit for being aware of the abuse strengthened! Also Joseph Pikul, Murderer of Diane Pikul Now among dozens of devotees guarding entries to the charges them! 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