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. Read More: How Did Samuel Joaqun Flores Die? Please enter valid email address to continue. They allegedly were told that if they went against Garcias desires they were going against God. The other individuals named in the complaint are Alondra Ocampo, Azalea Rangel Melendez, and Susana Medina Oaxaca, all of whom are affiliated with La Luz Del Mundo. "The apostle always shows determination to move forward," said Phares Ruiz, who traveled from El Salvador to attend the Holy Supper. Only in September 2020 did the man plead not guilty to the crimes charged against him. 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. Like other women in Hermosa Provincia, she wears dresses and skirts that are not form-fitting, eschews makeup and earrings and wears her hair long. ode to the vampire mother results; national asset mortgage lawsuit; green tuna paper; mary davis sos band net worth If you have any questions please contact: Bilingual Services Program at (916) 210-7580. [2], He continues to be named as Legal Representative of the church in Mexico in spite of having been convicted of child sex crimes. #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. This was all Naasons doing.. On June 3, 2019, Naasn, Susana, and Alondra landed in a private jet at the Los Angeles International Airport, where they were arrested. By Khaleda Rahman On 6/9/22 at 4:57 AM EDT. Aarn's wife was the church's first member. "For us everything is very nice, everything continues to work," she said. Biblical verses are cited to explain behavior. One remains on the run, while another has agreed to testify against Garcia, saying she herself was abused. 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. The neighborhood has cafeterias, clinics, a recreation center and a store that sells Bibles and religious-themed games for children. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. On June 8, 2022, Naasn was convicted for the three charges and sentenced to 16 years and 8 months behind bars. The church says it has congregations in all 50 American states. While he maintained his innocence for three years, Garca has . 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. 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. It is Mexicos largest evangelical church and has branches in 50 countries, including churches in East and West Los Angeles. 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. After the court determined he was a flight risk, Garcia's been held without . This is not an organized religion, this is an organized institution of criminal activities thats been running for 96 years. Read More: Where is Naasn Joaqun Garcia Now? In this case, the court set bail for Joaqun Garca at $25 million. And NOW is the time to stand up and fight.. Please consult with a translator for accuracy if you are relying on the translation or are using this site for official business. Newsweek has asked the office of California's attorney general for comment on the church's claims. Most teachings translate into something quotidian. 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. 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. He's known to church members as Aarn - a result, he said, of God asking him to change his name. Speaking on a podcast called "I Left a Sect," Lo-ami Salazar said Hermosa Provincia used to be her "happy place.". The church's media relations office claims there is no crime in the area. Sept. 19, 2022 11:27 AM PT 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. 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. Naasn became involved with the churchs activities at a young age and served as a minister in several other congregations across California and Arizona. She said she does not think the plea deal will result in a total crisis for the institution.. We will hold you accountable if you break the law, Atty. "He's firm in his convictions, and the church is firm as well in its purpose of moving forward.". Garcias lawyers didnt immediately return requests for comment; a church spokesman had no immediate comment. ", Garca "will continue ministering to the church," the statement said. "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. The RICO suit names him, the organization called Light of the World, his mother, his wife, his brother, and many of the leaders of the organization. Naasn Joaqun Garca in Los Angeles County Superior Court on June 8. 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. 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. Nearly all closed their eyes. In addition to Joaqun Garca, Alondra Ocampo and Susana Medina Oaxaca were also arrested. 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. 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? 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. The defendant has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Ahead of the baptism, in a ritual known as "the revivals," children undergo days of prayer and fasting inside a temple. 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. Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times via AP, Pool, Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. And unfortunately, I see a lot of lamentations of family and family members that are out online saying that they feel very sad, he said. 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. Many organization leaders, including Susana and Alondra, were accused of being the perpetrators. 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 church was founded in 1926 by Garcias grandfather, who was succeeded by Garcias father, Samuel Joaquin Flores. Todays decision demonstrates, as we have always said, that the Apostle is innocent and his innocence will be judicially proven through the course of the trial a Church spokesperson said in a written statement to Brian Ross Investigates. 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. "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. 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. 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. Emailus. But criminal attorney Fred Thiagarajah,who at various points was involved on both sides of the case, noted the reality waiting for Garcain prison will likely be a stark awakening for the self-described Apostle, if not his followers. La Luz del Mundo is sometimes described as evangelical, but its members do not embrace this term. Three female church members also have been charged with various offenses. They urged Judge Ronald Coen to impose a longer sentence, but he responded that his "hands are tied" by the agreement. Coming to his two sisters, Elda and Simba, aside from the fact the latter has ostensibly been married since 2013, we, unfortunately, do not know much about them in any manner. Its not me thats doing this, this is what God wants you to do, Thiagarajah told Brian Ross. Nassn Joaqun continues to be the leader of La Luz del Mundo church and one of the most powerful ministers of worship in Mexico. Garcia, charged with 23 counts of child sex abuse, is being held on $90 million bail; trial is scheduled for November. CBS News Los Angeles: The Rundown (June 8 AM Edition). 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. 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. The investigation began in 2018, in part, because of information submitted to the California Department of Justice through the clergy abuse online complaint form. [7], Susana Medina Oaxaca and Alondra Ocampo were also charged. I believe she [Ocampo] was brainwashed, said Martin. 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 had once been his most devoted servants. 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.Garca and his co-defendants allegedly committed these crimes between 2015 and 2018 while leading La Luz . 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