1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. We will hold you accountable if you break the law, said Attorney General Bonta. 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. As of today, the Apostle has been detained for almost three years without attainable bail. Flores was also the subject of child sex abuse allegations in 1997, but authorities in Mexico never filed criminal charges. Citing crimes dating back to 2015, the California Department of Justice arrested Garca, aka the Apostle, in 2019 at Los Angeles International Airport, along with two other church members, Susana Medina Oaxaca and Alondra Ocampo, and held him on $90-million bail. 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. On June 3, 2019, Naasn, Susana, and Alondra landed in a private jet at the Los Angeles International Airport, where they were arrested. 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. 2023-01-18T22:22:56.161Z, Agriculture in space: scientists receive samples sent to the International Space Station 2023-01-18T22:40:34.753Z, 'Justice is perpetual': the claim during the tribute to Fernando Bez Sosa three years after the crime Naasn Joaqun Garcia Family has always decided to stay away from LimeLight for a very long time as the family members have always faced many bad considerations when they are related to him. This Google translation feature is provided for informational purposes only. 2022 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Some knelt and wept. January 5, 2023 Breaking News Followers of Naasn Joaqun Garca demand his release The Church of the Light of the World issued a statement in defense of The Apostle of All news articles on La Muz del Mundo is represented in over 58 countries and claims to have over 5 million followers. But in court they called him "evil" and a "monster," "disgusting human waste" and the "antichrist. We must not turn a blind eye to sexual violence and trafficking in our state. 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. It is also anticipated that he wont survive this long and will die in prison within these 16 years. December 6, 2022. 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. (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.) Garcas grandfather founded the Guadalajara-based fundamentalist Christian church known by its English name, The Light of the World in 1926. Ruiz told The Associated Press that his family has belonged to La Luz del Mundo for three generations. La Luz del Mundo is a church that originated in 2023-01-18T22:28:45.442Z, A study found what the smartest dog breed is - and it's not a border collie - voila! 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. 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. 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. SACRAMENTO California Attorney General Xavier Becerra today announced the arrest and filing of charges against Naasn Joaqun Garca (Joaqun Garca) and his co Efforts to fight human trafficking have also included taking on labor exploitation. 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. Naason Joaquin Garcia, leader of La Luz del Mundo church, in court in Los Angeles in 2020. The arrests and charges announced today were the result of an investigation initiated by the California Department of Justice. 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. 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 should mention that according to Vice, apart from Naasn, his family has also faced accusations of sexual abuse against minors. These individuals created a direct impact on their life. 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. 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. On Sept. 8 a lawsuit was filed in California against Joaqun Garca and four church members alleged to be complicit in the sex abuse. 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. Naasn Joaqun Garcia Family, Present Location and Details By Indrayudh Published December 8, 2022 Naasn Joaqun Garcia Family has always decided to stay away from LimeLight for a very long time as the family members have always faced many bad considerations when they are related to him. 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Crimes like those alleged in this complaint have no place in our society. As for their professional standing, while Alma allegedly serves as a social worker, Adoram has been linked to the Mexican soccer promotional league. Nevertheless, there are former members who say their ceremony was not optional. 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" 2023-01-18T22:40:40.262Z, The Argentine Government will repurchase 1,000 million dollars of external debt "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. Check Out Here, Will You Get Another Stimulus Payment in 2023? Considering the evidence set forth in the motion filed, it is clear that his rights have been unjustly violated and all charges against the Apostle should be dismissed, and he should be Stimulus Check 4 Expected Date Direct Deposit For Social Security Recipients. 2023-01-18T21:46:33.802Z, The Republicans: ric Ciotti's new organization chart sparks protest from Bruno Retailleau 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. 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. Read Also Joseph Pikul, Murderer of Diane Pikul Now? The suit was filed by five women who - under the pseudonym Jane Doe - were identified as victims in the original criminal charges 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. 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 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. 2023-01-18T23:46:40.448Z, Tidiane, 16, stabbed to death in Thiais: four teenagers indicted and imprisoned A copy of this disclaimer can also be found on our Disclaimer page. Many organization leaders, including Susana and Alondra, were accused of being the perpetrators. After the court determined he was a flight risk, Garcia's Megachurch leader Naason Joaquin Garcia has been sentenced to 16 years and eight months in prison. At the California Department of Justice, we will do everything we can to prevent and combat these heinous crimes so that our communities are safe. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. "Ministers, pastors and deacons have their same duties. In some cities, people tithe more than 10% of their monthly income to the church. He is the third apostle of the congregation after succeeding his father Samuel in power after his death on December 14, 2014. The California Department of Justice has also fought to protect juvenile victims of trafficking,bringing 54 felony chargesagainst the alleged operators of a statewide sex trafficking ring in 2017. The latter was the leader of the La "The apostle always shows determination to move forward," said Phares Ruiz, who traveled from El Salvador to attend the Holy Supper. To gasps of surprise, Joaqun Garca addressed the congregation by telephone from his Los Angeles prison, where he is serving a 16-year sentence. This Google translation feature is provided for informational purposes only. Susana Medina Oaxaca appears in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Friday, June 21, 2019. This included allegations of human trafficking, production of child pornography, forcible rape of a minor, and other felonies. Todays conviction is the result of a multiyear investigation and prosecution led by the California Department of Justice. 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. She actively recruited and groomed girls for him, Thiagarajah said. During services, the women sit to the right and men to the left. "It is not sufficient to say 'I have converted' or "I have baptized'" she said. Defense lawyers had said prosecutors were operating under a far-fetched legal theory that Garca used spiritual coercion for sexual pleasure. The lawsuit also includes Garcia's accomplices and facilitators, Alondra Ocampo and Susana Oaxaca, two members of La Luz del Mundo who were also sentenced to prison for helping them abuse the victims. She was detained for a few days in a jail in this city and was released after paying bail of $150,000. 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. Naasn became involved with the churchs activities at a young age and served as a minister in several other congregations across California and Arizona. "It has been a very difficult issue, of course, for him and for us," she added. 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. Not just that, the complaint detailed how the victims were reportedly forced to perform sexual acts and dances in minimal clothing for their Apostle. "You have to follow certain steps to prove your loyalty.". The case was prosecuted by the California Department of Justices Special Prosecutions Section with assistance from the Appeals, Writs, and Trials Section. 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. He's known to church members as Aarn - a result, he said, of God asking him to change his name. The conviction comes just days ahead of trial, which was set to begin on Monday. 13,512 Alert: Alzheimer's-Like 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. 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 church in court in Los Angeles County Superior court on Friday, June 21 2019! Has also faced accusations of sexual abuse against minors she said other congregations across California and.! Of human trafficking, production of child sex abuse that his family has to. 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