Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. They were suspected of committing 26 felonies in Los Angeles County between 2015 and 2018. Where Are Naasn Joaqun Garcia's Wife and Kids Now? The decision by Ocampo followed weeks of testimony by California state agents about her role in delivering young women to Garcia for sexually deviant acts, many of which she recorded on video for him. I believe she [Ocampo] was brainwashed, said Martin. When the women tried to expose Garca, they found themselves isolated and shunned by the church community, including members of their own families. A megachurch has defended its leader after he was sentenced to more than 16 years in a California prison for sexually abusing girls in his congregation. As per court documents, the complainants alleged he sexually abused one woman and three minors, also raping the woman and another child. The neighborhood has cafeterias, clinics, a recreation center and a store that sells Bibles and religious-themed games for children. A St. Paul, Minn., native, Jany studied communications at Mississippi State University. 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. Last year, Attorney General Becerrahelped bring downthe worlds largest online brothel, Backpage.com, and convicted its CEO. Naason Joaqun Garcia was arrested at the airport in Los Angeles, California, in June 2019. 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. Church member Alondra Ocampo was expected to testify against him. 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. 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. They also alleged the church was involved in a lengthy cover-up of the sexual misconduct. March 21, 2022 17:02 ET | Source: The Light of the World. Joaquin Garca is described as serious, fearsome and strong-willed by those who know him, but there is little public information about him before his rise to power. 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. La Luz del Mundo is sometimes described as evangelical, but its members do not embrace this term. It is Mexicos largest evangelical church and has branches in 50 countries, including churches in East and West Los Angeles. 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. Since having carried out harassment of minors, touching and rape. 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. "This is a path that God has placed in front of him for a reason, as he did for Apostle Paul.". They urged Judge Ronald Coen to impose a longer sentence, but he responded that his "hands are tied" by the agreement. Crimes like those alleged in this complaint have no place in our society. 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. People who molest children, this is the kind of mentality they have. We must not turn a blind eye to sexual violence and trafficking in our state. While its leader, Naasn Joaqun Garca, has been idolized by millions of followers as an apostle of God, he just pleaded guilty to child sex abuse charges in Los Angeles on June 3. 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. They go along with it because they think its a blessing. Sentencing is scheduled for Wednesday. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. And theyre accepting that narrative that he had no choice, that he is innocent and this is all still some kind of farce.. Only in September 2020 did the man plead not guilty to the crimes charged against him. 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. 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. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 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 . 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. They have power, they have the money, she added. But in court they called him "evil" and a "monster," "disgusting human waste" and the "antichrist. 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 suit was filed by five women who - under the pseudonym Jane Doe - were identified as victims in the original criminal charges against him. Only the rare defendant like Naasn Joaqun Garcia should be locked up before trial, and most should be released without money bail. Garcias lawyers didnt immediately return requests for comment; a church spokesman had no immediate comment. Joaqun Garca was held on $50 million bail, Ocampo on $25 million, and Oaxaca remained free on bail. On June 8, 2022, Naasn was convicted for the three charges and sentenced to 16 years and 8 months behind bars. Garcia, charged with 23 counts of child sex abuse, is being held on $90 million bail; trial is scheduled for November. June 8, 2022 / 3:01 PM So, if youre interested in finding out about Naasns current whereabouts and how he was apprehended, heres what we know about the same! Authorities continue to search for a fourth suspect, Azalea Rangel Melendez. Rob Bonta said in a news release issued late Friday afternoon. In California alone it has about 50 locations. Thats because it charts not just the way the titular Mexican non-traditional Christian Church took advantage of minors for years but also the 2019 apprehension of leader Naasn Joaqun Garcia. Naasn Joaqun Garcia -- the leader of La Luz del Mundo (Light of the World) -- was sentenced to 16 years and eight months in prison after pleading guilty Friday to two counts of forcible oral. So far he remains imprisoned in the United States. Naasn Joaqun Garcia -- the leader of La Luz del Mundo (Light of the World) -- was sentenced to 16 years and eight months in prison after pleading guilty Friday to two counts of forcible oral copulation involving minors and one count of a lewd act upon a child who was 15 years old. 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. The survivors had objected to the plea deal and said they had only found out about it at the last minute. Please enter valid email address to continue. They can never accept responsibility for themselves and for their actions. 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? 2022 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. Its not me thats doing this, this is what God wants you to do, Thiagarajah told Brian Ross. The alleged crimes committed by Garcia occurred between 2015 and 2019. Nassn Joaqun continues to be the leader of La Luz del Mundo church and one of the most powerful ministers of worship in Mexico. 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. "I did cry, because I was saying, 'God, deliver me from this, make this time pass quickly,'" Haifa said from Texas. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Garcia leads the Light of the World Church, an evangelical-based faith which claims to have five million members in dozens of countries around the world. Before joining The Times in 2018, he covered city news and state politics at the Hartford Courant. He is the fifth of eight children and during much . In 2014, he succeeded his father as the new leader AKA the Apostle of the La Luz del Mundo. As the states chief law enforcement officer, Attorney General Becerra is committed to combatting human trafficking and safeguarding the rights of trafficking survivors. 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. He initially faced more than 20 charges, but most were dismissed after a plea deal with prosecutors. Are You Taking It? 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. At the California Department of Justice, we will continue to stand up for survivors and fight back against abuse. [9] He will soon face a civil trial for such crimes as human trafficking and forced labor. Sexual assault is never acceptable. Garcia, 53, had publicly maintained his innocence for years. 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. 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. . A megachurch has defended its leader after he was sentenced to more than 16 years in a California prison for sexually abusing . 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. This led to the position of the organization, which requested the release of its leader through a statement. Offenders and people accused of molesting children always have a difficult time in prison. 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