Kellermeyer said his wife who earlier pled guilty was preparing to be the star witness at Garcas trial and was disappointed not to have the opportunity to testifyhaving hoped to reach dedicated church members, like her own parents, still in the church who refuse to believe that Garca is guilty. 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. He called Garca a sexual predator. He is currently charged on more than 30 counts, including possession of child pornography, human trafficking, sexual abuse of minors and extortion. A copy of the complaint is available here. The case has been difficult for some former members who have distanced themselves from the church. 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. And it shouldnt be, the lawyer continued. Illicit enrichment, money laundering, transfers to tax havens and the purchase of luxury goods and services were some of the alerts issued by the unit. God has his plan.. 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. Ocampo has been held in custody for more than a year since her arrest with Garcia on his private jet at the Los Angeles airport by California law enforcement. As per court documents, the complainants alleged he sexually abused one woman and three minors, also raping the woman and another child. "Ministers, pastors and deacons have their same duties. Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times via AP, Pool, Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. 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. In some cities, people tithe more than 10% of their monthly income to the church. Alma was seemingly always well respected but just not as popular, especially considering her position and the fact theres little to absolutely no information available on her on any public platform. As for their professional standing, while Alma allegedly serves as a social worker, Adoram has been linked to the Mexican soccer promotional league. Or to keep it anonymous, click here. Over several hours, the victims detailed horrific abuse by Garca. [1] Early life [ edit] A megachurch has defended its leader after he was sentenced to more than 16 years in a California prison for sexually abusing . 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. 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. The home base of the church is the Guadalajara neighborhood of Hermosa Provincia, Spanish for "beautiful province." And theyre accepting that narrative that he had no choice, that he is innocent and this is all still some kind of farce.. Many organization leaders, including Susana and Alondra, were accused of being the perpetrators. Newsweek has asked the office of California's attorney general for comment on the church's claims. 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. ", Garca "will continue ministering to the church," the statement said. "He used me over and over again like a sacrificial lamb taken to slaughter.". Those born in the community are baptized at 14 because, according to the church, that lets them decide whether to reaffirm or leave the faith. 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. A California appeals court ordered the . 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. 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. Times staff writers Jany and Ormseth reported from Los Angeles, Miller from Mexico City. 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. 2022 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. If you see something, report it and we will vigorously pursue justice.. 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. The state of California refiled charges against Megachurch leader Naasn Joaqun Garca last week for child rape and human trafficking. list of benue state deputy governors list of benue state deputy governors Rich L.A. homeowners are snapping them up, Review: A reimagined Secret Garden fails to flower anew at the Ahmanson Theatre, Column: Supreme Court conservatives may want to block student loan forgiveness. 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. Naason Joaqun Garcia was arrested at the airport in Los Angeles, California, in June 2019. Prosecutors said that the crimes dated back to at least 2015. On June 8, 2022, Naasn was convicted for the three charges and sentenced to 16 years and 8 months behind bars. It is important to note that criminal charges are only allegations against a person. 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. ", "I worshipped my abuser," said a woman identified as Jane Doe 4 and said she was his niece. 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. 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.. "You have to follow certain steps to prove your loyalty.". Had it proceeded, the trial might have offered a rare glimpse into the insular world of La Luz del Mundo Light of the World which boasts more than 5 million members. Naasn became involved with the churchs activities at a young age and served as a minister in several other congregations across California and Arizona. 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. Offenders and people accused of molesting children always have a difficult time in prison. In 2014, he succeeded his father as the new leader AKA the Apostle of the La Luz del Mundo. Another neighborhood resident, Sailem Castillo, also said she was upbeat despite Joaqun Garca's imprisonment. #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. Posted on 26 Feb in greenshield pharmacy intervention codes. First published on June 8, 2022 / 3:01 PM. Bail was set at a stunning $25 million for Naason Joaquin . [9] He will soon face a civil trial for such crimes as human trafficking and forced labor. They bless the bread, the wine, and do other things as if he were here, although physically he is not.". While Flores was never charged with a crime, Garcias arrest and the subsequent charges against him made international headlines. If possible, verify the text with references provided in the foreign-language article. "I see your beautiful faces because you are the children of God.". As of writing, the case is still being deliberated in a court of law. He initially faced more than 20 charges, but most were dismissed after a plea deal with prosecutors. Naasn Merar Joaqun Garca (born on May 7, 1969) is a Mexican religious leader and convicted child molester who is the third leader of the La Luz del Mundo church, succeeding his father, Samuel Joaqun Flores, in December 2014. 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. 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. They had once been his most devoted servants. During services, the women sit to the right and men to the left. On Sept. 8 a lawsuit was filed in California against Joaqun Garca and four church members alleged to be complicit in the sex abuse. 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. The conviction comes just days ahead of trial, which was set to begin on Monday. 0 . 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. Efforts to fight human trafficking have also included taking on labor exploitation. Garcia is said to have coerced girls in his congregation to engage in various sex acts over the years. Naasn Joaqun Garca may be released in December 2032 Dementia And Memory Loss Has Been Linked To This Common Pill. Ahead of the baptism, in a ritual known as "the revivals," children undergo days of prayer and fasting inside a temple. 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. Ocampo is the second woman from Garcias inner circle to turn against him. Nassn Joaqun continues to be the leader of La Luz del Mundo church and one of the most powerful ministers of worship in Mexico. The investigation began in 2018, in part, because of information submitted to the California Department of Justice through the clergy abuse online complaint form. Agents also testified that Ocampo would take the young girls to Victorias Secret stores to buy lingerie for them to wear as she filmed them for the Apostle.. They have power, they have the money, she added. Naasn Joaqun Garca in Los Angeles County Superior Court on June 8. On June 3, 2019, Naasn, Susana, and Alondra landed in a private jet at the Los Angeles International Airport, where they were arrested. And NOW is the time to stand up and fight.. Garcia 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, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said at the time of the arrest. "I just want to tell the Jane Does that the world has heard you," the judge said, according to the Los Angeles Times. Spanning the main street is a sculpture spelling "innocent" in Spanish. And theyre going to keep running with this as long as they possibly can until somebody puts a stop to it.. "I did cry, because I was saying, 'God, deliver me from this, make this time pass quickly,'" Haifa said from Texas. naason joaquin garcia released naason joaquin garcia released. 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. This biographical article about a Mexican religious figure is a stub. Shame on you!". Apart from Naasn, his mother, wife, brother, and children were named in the lawsuit for being aware of the abuse. There are apparently video clips of them engaging in such atrocious acts, some of which even go as far as to include extreme incest. And still the bishops and the hierarchy are lying to the members. "He's firm in his convictions, and the church is firm as well in its purpose of moving forward.". 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. 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. Its always somebody elses fault.. My heart goes out to all those affected by the horrific actions brought to light during this case. Joaqun Garca, 53, was arrested in 2019 in California. Please consult with a translator for accuracy if you are relying on the translation or are using this site for official business. They urged Judge Ronald Coen to impose a longer sentence, but he responded that his "hands are tied" by the agreement. Naason Joaquin Garcia, leader of La Luz del Mundo church, in court in Los Angeles in 2020. [emailprotected]. Prosecutors said that the crimes dated back to at least 2015. 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. One commenter speculated about whether the terms of the plea deal might call for Garcia to out other alleged abusers in the church. LOS ANGELES (CNS) - The leader of a Mexico-based evangelical megachurch is due in a Los Angeles courtroom today to face sentencing following a deal with prosecutors last week in which he agreed to plead guilty to three sex counts involving minors. 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. 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. Todos Los Derechos Reservados 2021 Infobae, Lawyers of the leader of the Light of the World threatened witnesses from the United States and Mexico, I saw a criminal: Naasn Joaqun's assistant told how he lived 30 years with the former leader of La Luz del Mundo, There is already a date for the trial against Naasn Joaqun Garcia: The Light of the World awaits justice for the Apostle of Jesus Christ. 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. [8], He was transferred to North Kern State Prison for evaluations to determine his placement within the prison system. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 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