"You have to follow certain steps to prove your loyalty.". 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. ", "I worshipped my abuser," said a woman identified as Jane Doe 4 and said she was his niece. Since having carried out harassment of minors, touching and rape. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. We should mention that according to Vice, apart from Naasn, his family has also faced accusations of sexual abuse against minors. 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. We must not turn a blind eye to sexual violence and trafficking in our state. John Roger Berg Murder | In what place is Vincent Vinnie Spoto now? The Associated Press contributed to this report. 2023-01-18T22:10:50.568Z, Yasmine Ateeq A cultural heritage seminar in Kafr Souseh, Damascus news Sochil further alleged that her aunt and a foster mother groomed and coerced her into forcibly serving the church leaders. (RELATED: DOJ Opens Investigation Into Roman Catholic Church Sex Abuse). 2023-01-18T21:58:39.792Z, Manuela Schwesig: "I underestimated Putin's aggressiveness" 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. 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. 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" Earlier in 2020, a former La Luz Del Mundo church member, Sochil Martin, sued the church and its leaders. 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 A new adjustment to the parole eligibility date for Naasn Joaqun Garca, leader of the La Luz del Mundo church, puts him before a possible five-year reduction to his sentence for 2023-01-18T22:34:34.710Z, Sex scandal in the police: a married policewoman had sex with policemen and they were all fired - voila! Naasn became involved with the churchs activities at a young age and served as a minister in several other congregations across California and Arizona. 2023-01-18T23:28:35.547Z, Hand in hand with the Argentine Dakar champion Kevin Benavides 2023-01-18T23:46:40.448Z, Tidiane, 16, stabbed to death in Thiais: four teenagers indicted and imprisoned 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. CBS Los Angeles reportedthe California Department of Justice arrested Joaqun Garcia and two other members of the church, Susana Medina Oaxaca and Alondra Ocampo, in 2019. 2023-01-18T23:52:35.912Z, Between essays, biographies and novels: what books will we read in 2023 A judge had thrown out four counts of extortion and sentencing enhancements for great bodily injury for lack of evidence. In total, there are more than 30 crimes in total, including child pornography and trafficking in persons, committed between 2015 and 2018. The head of the multinational church La Luz del Mundo was sentenced to 16 years and 8 months in prison Wednesday after pleading guilty to several sexual assault charges. They bless the bread, the wine, and do other things as if he were here, although physically he is not.". 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. September 19, 2022 / 8:20 AM It is a fantasy seemingly invented out of whole cloth, defense attorney Alan Jackson wrote in a court filing. Garca and Ocampo remain in custody. Naasn Joaqun Garca, 53, who is considered the apostle of Jesus Christ by his 5 million worldwide followers, had vigorously fought charges that included child rape, until abruptly accepting a plea deal on the eve of trial. The neighborhood has cafeterias, clinics, a recreation center and a store that sells Bibles and religious-themed games for children. 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. Prosecutors said that the crimes dated back to at least 2015. If you see something, report it and we will vigorously pursue justice.. Ocampo will be sentenced at a later date. And Naason Joaquin, whose followers call the "Apostle of Jesus Christ" and "Servant of God," signed a controversial agreement with the California District Attorney's Office He's known to church members as Aarn - a result, he said, of God asking him to change his name. He is the third apostle of the congregation after succeeding his father Samuel in power after his death on December 14, 2014. 2023-01-18T22:52:51.370Z, Russia-Ukraine war: USA apparently wants to deliver heavy weapons worth billions to Kyiv 2023-01-18T23:10:35.355Z, Deadly brawl in Val-de-Marne: four minors indicted and imprisoned Check Out Here, Will You Get Another Stimulus Payment in 2023? The family has already kept silent for a very long time. 2023-01-18T22:16:34.318Z, These emoticons or emojis could alert you that your child uses drugs 2023-01-18T22:40:40.262Z, The Argentine Government will repurchase 1,000 million dollars of external debt 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Since Joaqun Garca's arrest, La Luz del Mundo's media relations team says it cannot make official statements on his case because litigation is ongoing. La Luz del Mundo is a church that originated in 2023-01-18T23:10:48.565Z, Qu Yingyan questioned that members of the Legislative Council have 80 days of summer vacation Jasper Jasper: As a member, I have to hold meetings during summer vacation 2023-01-18T23:22:46.392Z, They planned to "survive the end of the world." 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On June 3, 2019, Naasn, Susana, and Alondra landed in a private jet at the Los Angeles International Airport, where they were arrested. This Google translation feature is provided for informational purposes only. The family is presently in a very bad condition after he has been charged and then sentenced to 16 years in prison. We also claim so because it was recently reported that Naasns son Adoram acquired a massive mansion in Malibu, a highly affluent coastal community within Los Angeles. 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 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. "It is not sufficient to say 'I have converted' or "I have baptized'" she said. 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. Please enter valid email address to continue. A copy of the charging document is available here. 2023-01-18T23:10:55.786Z, The atrocious methods of organized crime in Ecuador to sow terror "I think it changed for the better in the sense that now we feel more united, and we feel more empowered," she said. Hes serving a nearly 17-year sentence in Los Angeles on sex abuse charges. 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. Explore More In Detail. 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. Many lifted their fists. Child Tax Credit 2023: Will CTC Be There In Next Year? Garca told the girls after they danced for him that a king could have mistresses and that an apostle of God can never be judged for his actions, according to the charges against him. Copyright 2021 The republic Monitor All Right Reserved, Naasn Joaqun Garcia Family, Present Location and Details. 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. It is also anticipated that he wont survive this long and will die in prison within these 16 years. Damian ", First published on September 19, 2022 / 8:20 AM. Crimes like those alleged in this complaint have no place in our society. Joaqun Garca and his co-defendants allegedly 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. Most teachings translate into something quotidian. Susana Medina Oaxaca appears in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Friday, June 21, 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. Garcia, 53, had publicly maintained his innocence for years. 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. Oaxaca pleaded guilty to one count of assault likely to cause great bodily injury in June. 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. If you have any questions please contact: Bilingual Services Program at (916) 210-7580. 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. Garcia is currently in custody in lieu of $50 million bail and co- defendant Alondra Ocampo, 36, is being held on $25 million bail. - He is charged with crimes including forcible rape of a minor, conspiracy and extortion. 2022 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. (RELATED: Pastor Who Admitted To 1998 Sexual Assault Will Not Face Charges), Aerial view of followers of Mexico-based Pentecostal church La Luz del Mundo (Light of the World), surrounding its headquarters during its annual gathering in Guadalajara, Jalisco state, Mexico, on August 9, 2019. 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. "The church weaponized the faith of their most vulnerable members," said Jonati Joey Yedidsion, one of the lawyers handling the lawsuit. In 2014, he succeeded his father as the new leader AKA the Apostle of the La Luz del Mundo. (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. Naason Joaquin Garcia, the leader of a Mexico-based evangelical church with a worldwide membership of more than 1 million appeared for a bail review hearing in Los Angeles Superior Court on July 15, 2019. 2023-01-18T21:41:01.084Z, A 115-year-old Spaniard could be the new oldest of humanity Similar accusations emerged in September last year, so the trial ended up being rescheduled for May 2022. 13-year-old girl leads Nebraska troopers on 100-mph chase. "All this goes to show that although you are part of this world, you have accepted a very particular way of life because you are Christian," Snchez-Walsh said. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Born on May 7, 1969, in Guadalajara, Mexico, Naasn Joaqun Garcia was the fifth of Mexican church leader Samuel Joaqun Flores eight children. 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. 2023-01-18T22:28:34.565Z, These are the searches Brian Walshe did on Google before and after he killed his wife Ana Walshe, according to prosecutors Nasson Joaquin Garcia admitted to two counts of forcible oral copulation with two individual minors and one count of a lewd act upon a child of the age of 15, according to a statement from the California attorney generals office. His confession came June 3, three days before his trial was scheduled to start. The investigation began in 2018, in part, because of information submitted to the California Department of Justice through the clergy abuse online complaint form. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty. Congregation members in the neighborhood call each other "brother" and "sister" and take pride in helping one another. SACRAMENTO California Attorney General Xavier Becerra today announced the arrest and filing of charges against Naasn Joaqun Garca (Joaqun Garca) and his co A Teen Murder Victim's Horrific Diary Entry Helped Police Find Her Killer, Kai The Hatchet-Wielding Hitchhiker Was Arrested Months After His Viral Interview, Netflix's Latest True-Crime Docuseries Dives Into A $65 Billion Ponzi Scheme, 'The Last Of Us' Star Bella Ramsey Almost Didnt Take The Role Of Ellie, Get Even More From Bustle Sign Up For The Newsletter, By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our. Read Also Joseph Pikul, Murderer of Diane Pikul Now? 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. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. From what we can tell, every member of the Joaqun family prefers to stay well away from the limelight these days, yet they do likely divide their time between their homeland of Guadalajara and their last known base of California. As the leader of La Luz del Mundo, Naasn Joaqun Garca used his power to take advantage of children. 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. Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov, State of California Department of Justice, Consumer Protection and Economic Opportunity, California Justice Information Services (CJIS), Attorney General Bonta Secures Conviction Against Megachurch. However, the five complainants, addressed as Jane Does in the court, were unhappy with the minimal sentences their aggressors received. Their spiritual leader is behind bars in California after pleading guilty to sexually abusing minors. 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. [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. [2] 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.". She also conducted nude photo shoots for Garca in which the girls touched each other, according to the charges. 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. 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. 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. The latter was the leader of the La As of writing, the case is still being deliberated in a court of law. In this case, the court set bail for Joaqun Garca at $25 million. Despite the conviction, Garcas followers pledged to stand by him. 2023-01-18T22:52:45.963Z, Police search a container in Sheung Shui and reveal it as a Pai Gow gambling stall His false impact has directly got upon two his wife and especially on his kids as they have got a very bad image of their father, which has affected them to a great extent. 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. 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. 2023-01-18T22:10:34.237Z, grew up in an abusive home and now cares for others with the same trauma: "When there is violence in the family, the transparent child is also a victim" | Israel today 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. 2023-01-18T23:16:40.793Z, The day Cristina explained why Nisman had been murdered His confession came June 3, three days before his trial was scheduled to start. An arrest warrant has also been issued for Azalea Rangel Melendez, who is currently at large. As of today, the Apostle has been detained for almost three years without attainable bail. Another neighborhood resident, Sailem Castillo, also said she was upbeat despite Joaqun Garca's imprisonment. Currently, journalists are not allowed to attend services or take photographs inside the church's temples. 2023-01-18T23:22:35.481Z, By 2100 the sea level could rise up to 50 centimeters, according to a study Nasson Joaquin Garcia admitted to two counts of forcible oral copulation with two individual minors and one count of a lewd act upon a child of the age of 15, according to a statement from the California attorney generals office. 2023-01-18T22:52:56.769Z, RBD gathers their fans in different parts of the world to share an important announcement Oaxaca pleaded guilty to assault charges resulting in bodily harm, while Ocampo pleaded guilty in 2020 and still awaits sentencing. 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 a child who was 15. Ocampo was prepared to testify against him, her attorney Fred Thiagarajah said. "It has been a very difficult issue, of course, for him and for us," she added. From the walls hang photographs of Joaqun Garca, smiling and wearing a tuxedo. Alondra Ocampo, Naasn Joaqun's main accomplice, is sentenced to four years in prison and will soon be released Chronicles LLDM Info October 13, 2022 No Comments Ocampo had pleaded guilty to four counts related to recruiting minors to be abused by the leader of the 'La Luz del Mundo' church. Many believe he was sent by God to preach to them and are convinced he is innocent, despite his guilty plea. In the true-crime docuseries, several survivors share their stories of abuse they have suffered at the hands of the powerful religious groups successive leaders, known as the apostles. In 2019, the churchs head, Naasn Joaqun Garca, faced 36 charges, including human trafficking, rape, child pornography, and forcible oral copulation of a minor, according to the Los Angeles Times. 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. "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. Ahead of the baptism, in a ritual known as "the revivals," children undergo days of prayer and fasting inside a temple. 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. Even outside the temple, the sound of his voice stirred emotions among dozens of devotees guarding entries to the sanctuary. "Instead of protecting those innocent women, Naasn and the church fostered and then brutally preyed on their blind trust and allegiance in the 'Apostle'". 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. The grandson of the churchs 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 count of committing a lewd act on a child in exchange for a reduced sentence of 17 years behind bars. 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All news articles on 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. The investigation, which was launched in 2018, culminated in the arrest of Garca, Susana Medina Oaxaca, and Alondra Ocampo in 2019 for conduct that occurred over several years in Los Angeles County dating back to at least 2015. Although, he denied the charges, including raping and trafficking girls from his congregation. I am incredibly grateful to our team at the California Department of Justice for their dedication to securing justice and fighting abuse on behalf of the people of California. OAKLAND California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued a statement on the nearly 17-year prison sentence imposed by the court for Naasn Joaqun Garca, the leader of La He relied on those around him to groom congregants for the purposes of sexual assault. 2023-01-18T21:52:39.473Z, CDU politician Kiesewetter blames ex-defense minister Guttenberg for the decline of the Bundeswehr I see your beautiful faces because you are the children of God., Per the AP, near the end of the call, he 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. Loyalists, like 49-year-old Sara Pozos, told the AP that the La Luz Del Mundo leaders imprisonment has united the church and changed it for the better., Meanwhile, five women, known as Jane Does, who said Garca sexually abused them between 2015 and 2019, filed a civil lawsuit in the Los Angeles County Superior Court, seeking damages against the church. This included allegations of human trafficking, production of child pornography, forcible rape of a minor, and other felonies. 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.
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