Garca and Ocampo remain in custody. 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. Ocampo pleaded guilty in 2020 to counts 19, 20, 21, and 33. (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. 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. Ruiz told The Associated Press that his family has belonged to La Luz del Mundo for three generations. 2023-01-18T22:58:35.027Z, Last public meeting before the strike for Borne and Dussopt The release of the leader of the La Luz del Mundo church on that date will be conditional on his good behavior. They were suspected of committing 26 felonies in Los Angeles County between 2015 and 2018. 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.". We must not turn a blind eye to sexual violence and trafficking in our state. Currently, journalists are not allowed to attend services or take photographs inside the church's temples. She also conducted nude photo shoots for Garca in which the girls touched each other, according to the charges. Naasn Joaqun Garca may be released in December 2032. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. The neighborhood has cafeterias, clinics, a recreation center and a store that sells Bibles and religious-themed games for children. Copyright 2021 The republic Monitor All Right Reserved, Naasn Joaqun Garcia Family, Present Location and Details. 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 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. John Roger Berg Murder | In what place is Vincent Vinnie Spoto now? Spanning the main street is a sculpture spelling "innocent" in Spanish. 2023-01-18T22:16:34.318Z, These emoticons or emojis could alert you that your child uses drugs The suit was filed by five women who - under the pseudonym Jane Doe - were identified as victims in the original criminal charges against him. Parents give biblical names to their children and take them to the temple at 40 days old to promise they will guide them to follow their path. 2023-01-19T00:04:36.145Z, Who is Keityn, the co-author of the lyrics of Shakira and Bizarrap's hit In September 2022, the Associated Press reported that thousands gathered to pray for their absent leader at the churchs main temple in Guadalajara, and to gasps of surprise, Garca addressed the congregation by telephone from his Los Angeles prison. Not just that, the complaint detailed how the victims were reportedly forced to perform sexual acts and dances in minimal clothing for their Apostle. Yet legions of followers ofNaasn Joaqun Garcain his home base in Mexico remain fervently loyal to him, viewing his imprisonment as a challenge that will strengthen their church, La Luz del Mundo (The Light of the World), rather than weaken it. The 53-year-old pastor was sentenced to about 17 years in prison for sexual abuse of three minors. Read More: How Did Samuel Joaqun Flores Die? 2023-01-18T22:10:45.162Z, "It does not rhyme": Michel Sardou not convinced by a song written by ChatGPT Despite the conviction, Garcas followers pledged to stand by him. 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. 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. Crimes like those alleged in this complaint have no place in our society. 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. 2023-01-18T21:40:55.584Z, Lautaro Martnez, champion again a month from the World Cup: great goal and title with Inter in the Italian Super Cup 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. 2023-01-18T23:04:35.147Z, An 'angel' with artificial intelligence tracks clues to find the disappeared in Mexico 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. He's known to church members as Aarn - a result, he said, of God asking him to change his name. Nassn Joaqun continues to be the leader of La Luz del Mundo church and one of the most powerful ministers of worship in Mexico. Today it claims a membership of more than 5 million in some 50 nations. On Sept. 8 a lawsuit was filed in California against Joaqun Garca and four church members alleged to be complicit in the sex abuse. 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. Susana Medina Oaxaca appears in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Friday, June 21, 2019. Church youth group leader Alondra Ocampo, who previously pleaded guilty to abusing the girls, was charged with directing teenage girls in skimpy outfits to perform flirty dances for Garca. As a documentary series that lives up to its title in every way imaginable, HBOs Unveiled: Surviving La Luz Del Mundo can only be described as equal parts gripping, riveting, as well as haunting. 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. As a documentary series that lives up to its title in every way imaginable, HBOs Unveiled: Surviving La Luz Del Mundo can only be described as equal parts 2023-01-18T22:52:45.963Z, Police search a container in Sheung Shui and reveal it as a Pai Gow gambling stall 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. Joaqun Garca and his co-defendants allegedly committed these crimes between 2015 and 2018 while leading La Luz Del Mundo, an international religious organization headquartered in Mexico with reportedly over one million followers worldwide. His victims wept and begged the court for a reversal while his followers continue to adore him. In this case, the court set bail for Joaqun Garca at $25 million. Only in September 2020 did the man plead not guilty to the crimes charged against him. 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 Furthermore, Susana and Alondra pled guilty to the charges against them. Todays conviction is the result of a multiyear investigation and prosecution led by the California Department of Justice. La Luz del Mundo is a church that originated in La Luz del Mundo is sometimes described as evangelical, but its members do not embrace this term. The church's doctrine is learned from the cradle. Garcia is currently in custody in lieu of $50 million bail and co- defendant Alondra Ocampo, 36, is being held on $25 million bail. All three individuals are associated with La Luz del Mundo. 2023-01-18T23:10:41.702Z, Authorities record record number of firearms seized at US airports during 2022 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. "I see your beautiful faces because you are the children of God.". Garcia inherited the office as leader from his father, Samuel Joaquin Flores, who also had sexual assault allegations standing against him, according to DW. To gasps of surprise, Joaqun Garca addressed the congregation by telephone from his Los Angeles prison, where he is serving a 16-year sentence. 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 The Associated Press contributed to this report. 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 These individuals created a direct impact on their life. 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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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. The case has been difficult for some former members who have distanced themselves from the church. 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. 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. Prosecutors said he used his spiritual influence to have sex with several female followers and was aided by others in the church who facilitated the abuse. 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. 2023-01-18T22:28:45.442Z, A study found what the smartest dog breed is - and it's not a border collie - voila! 2023-01-18T21:46:33.802Z, The Republicans: ric Ciotti's new organization chart sparks protest from Bruno Retailleau In 2018, Attorney General Becerracharged the operators of Rainbow Bright, a California adult residential and childcare company, with 59 criminal counts for alleged human trafficking and other alleged labor-related violations. 2023-01-18T22:22:50.746Z, Netflix presents a very varied and especially humorous cinematographic menu for 2023 2023-01-18T22:40:40.262Z, The Argentine Government will repurchase 1,000 million dollars of external debt 2023-01-18T21:29:17.222Z, What strategies to use to get out of your credit card debt? "He used me over and over again like a sacrificial lamb taken to slaughter. 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