"We all suffer something in life, but one learns to know those moments where you see that God is doing something to help you, to get ahead, not to let you fall.". She claimed facing decades of abuse at the hands of the leaders, including Naasn and his late father, Samuel Joaqun Flores. Later on, in 2019, when he was directly arrested for sexual abuse and rape 20 charges, that situation there was a very bad impact on the family members, especially on his wife and children, so the family members departed from the natural location and went on to live out of the line light. These individuals created a direct impact on their life. Congregation members in the neighborhood call each other "brother" and "sister" and take pride in helping one another. 2023-01-18T22:10:45.162Z, "It does not rhyme": Michel Sardou not convinced by a song written by ChatGPT 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 But in court they called him "evil" and a "monster," "disgusting human waste" and the "antichrist. Sexual assault is never acceptable, said Attorney General Rob Bonta. He relied on those around him to groom congregants for the purposes of sexual assault. Crimes like those alleged in this complaint have no place in our society. Italys Most Wanted Mafia Boss Matteo Messina Arrested in Sicily After 3 Decades, Keenan Anderson, cousin of Black Lives Matter co-founder, dies after being tased by Los Angeles police, 4 Factors That May Increase Chances of Long COVID-19, New Study Shows, COVID-19 Origin: American Scientists, Federal Health Officials Found Out Conflicting Root of the Virus, Surge of Omicron Variant Hampers Economic Recovery in the Country, 2 More $1,400 Stimulus Checks Could Be Released Anytime To Millions of Americans, Children Infected With COVID-19 Has Reached 1 Million, Wayne Brown Jr Died Read Now To Know More, $660 Monthly Stimulus Check Now Open For Application, $15,775 Can Now Be Claimed from IRS Open, $500 Million Child Care Assistance Remains Unclaim, Heres How To Apply. Ocampo told girls that if they rebuffed the wishes and desires of the apostle, they were going against God, according to the charges. 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. 2023-01-18T23:10:55.786Z, The atrocious methods of organized crime in Ecuador to sow terror 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 Read Also Joseph Pikul, Murderer of Diane Pikul Now? Spanning the main street is a sculpture spelling "innocent" in Spanish. 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. Megachurch leader Naason Joaquin Garcia has been sentenced to 16 years and eight months in prison. 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 2023-01-18T22:16:34.318Z, These emoticons or emojis could alert you that your child uses drugs Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, Off-grid living beckons more than just hardy pioneer types, Armed man arrested near Justice Kavanaughs house, Trumbull County indictments: Jan. 18, 2023, Revitalizing Youngstown: New apartments, bakery open, Humane agents pursuing abandonment charges in Masury, Senator details how new act may help local veterans, Developer moving forward with Liberty apartments, Connecticut bill would let children as young as 12, U.S., allies could send more military tools to Ukraine, Missing juvenile found during fight call in Warren, Woman receives sentence for death of motorcyclist, Driver of stolen truck leads Warren police on chase, Lisa Marie Presleys death deferred by L.A. coroner, A winter storm with snow and storms heading our way, Watch live: Washington & Jefferson vs. Westminster, Comedian shot by womans angry husband, court docs, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. As a result of todays guilty plea, Garca has been convicted of two counts of forcible oral copulation involving minors and one count of a lewd act upon a child who was 15 years old. If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, you can call the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or visit hotline.rainn.org. Most teachings translate into something quotidian. 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. Illicit enrichment, money laundering, transfers to tax havens and the purchase of luxury goods and services were some of the alerts issued by the unit. The leader of the megachurch was helped by church associates Susana Medina Oaxaca and Alondra Ocampo. "The apostle always shows determination to move forward," said Phares Ruiz, who traveled from El Salvador to attend the Holy Supper. 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. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 2023-01-18T22:10:39.715Z, American lawyer found dead in Mexico suffered "a brutal crime", says his family 2023-01-18T21:52:39.473Z, CDU politician Kiesewetter blames ex-defense minister Guttenberg for the decline of the Bundeswehr "It is not sufficient to say 'I have converted' or "I have baptized'" she said. The religion is "very demanding," said Arlene M. Snchez-Walsh, a professor of religious studies at Azusa Pacific University, a Christian institution near Los Angeles. The home base of the church is the Guadalajara neighborhood of Hermosa Provincia, Spanish for "beautiful province." Garcia inherited the office as leader from his father, Samuel Joaquin Flores, who also had sexual assault allegations standing against him, according to DW. Another female co-defendant who was a member of the church, Susana Medina Oaxaca, 27, pleaded guilty Friday to assault likely to cause great bodily injury, a misdemeanor. 2023-01-18T21:58:39.792Z, Manuela Schwesig: "I underestimated Putin's aggressiveness" 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. 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. LLDM, which has anywhere from 1 to 5 million followers, was founded in 1926 by Aarn Joaqun Gonzlez in Jalisco, the Mexican state that is known for being the birthplace of tequila. 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. 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. He initially faced more than 20 charges, but most were dismissed after a plea deal with prosecutors. On the other hand, a 19-page complaint was filed in court against Naasn by five unnamed victims. However, his wife Alma Zamora de Joaqun, with whom hed tied the knot in 1992, reportedly does not enjoy the same status in any of the 50+ countries wherein the church has a presence. 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. Susana Medina Oaxaca appears in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Friday, June 21, 2019. In addition to Joaqun Garca, Alondra Ocampo and Susana Medina Oaxaca were also arrested. Speaking on a podcast called "I Left a Sect," Lo-ami Salazar said Hermosa Provincia used to be her "happy place.". 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 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. The California Department of Justices investigation was supported by several law enforcement agencies, including Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Los Angeles Airport Police. After the court determined he was a flight risk, Garcia's He's known to church members as Aarn - a result, he said, of God asking him to change his name. 2023-01-18T21:41:01.084Z, A 115-year-old Spaniard could be the new oldest of humanity 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. 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. Sara Pozos, 49, is among many in the neighborhood who believe their leader's imprisonment has strengthened the church. A judge had thrown out four counts of extortion and sentencing enhancements for great bodily injury for lack of evidence. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive 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-defendants for alleged human trafficking, production of child pornography, forcible rape of a minor, and other felonies. In 2020, Ocampo pleaded guilty to three felony counts of contact with a minor for the purposes of committing a sexual offense and one count of forcible sexual penetration. 2023-01-18T22:34:34.710Z, Sex scandal in the police: a married policewoman had sex with policemen and they were all fired - voila! During services, the women sit to the right and men to the left. The neighborhood has cafeterias, clinics, a recreation center and a store that sells Bibles and religious-themed games for children. 2023-01-19T00:10:36.153Z, This is what the interior of the "invisible house" looks like, which is for sale for US$ 18 million 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. 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. Many lifted their fists. Garcas grandfather founded the Guadalajara-based fundamentalist Christian church known by its English name, The Light of the World in 1926. "Instead of protecting those innocent women, Naasn and the church fostered and then brutally preyed on their blind trust and allegiance in the 'Apostle'". After the imprisonment of her husband, she has already tried to protect her kids from protecting them from any particular problems they are supposed to face for whatever their father did with another woman. They had once been his most devoted servants. They will have to adjust to whatever happens. Thus, the Church of Light assured that based on the motion submitted it is clear that his constitutional rights have been unjustly violated, putting this as the main reason why he should be released. "Ministers, pastors and deacons have their same duties. Kevin McCarthy is a famous politician and his scandal love life, Stimulus Check-In January 2023: Find Out More Updates, Will SSI Get A Fourth Stimulus Check? Efforts to fight human trafficking have also included taking on labor exploitation. 2023-01-18T23:16:35.364Z, Department of Justice's "Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Task Force" meets for the first time to set three work directions They were suspected of committing 26 felonies in Los Angeles County between 2015 and 2018. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. 2023-01-18T23:22:35.481Z, By 2100 the sea level could rise up to 50 centimeters, according to a study Damian 2023-01-18T22:22:56.161Z, Agriculture in space: scientists receive samples sent to the International Space Station 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Oaxaca also pleaded guilty today in court and was convicted of assault likely to cause great bodily injury. But prosecutors said the victims were essentially brainwashed by Garca and felt they would be ostracized by the insular church community if they didnt submit to his desires. If you see something, report it and we will vigorously pursue justice.. 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. She was tasked with sexualizing these girls and facilitating their abuse.. Please consult with a translator for accuracy if you are relying on the translation or are using this site for official business. She actively recruited and groomed girls for him, Thiagarajah said. (RELATED: DOJ Opens Investigation Into Roman Catholic Church Sex Abuse). It is a fantasy seemingly invented out of whole cloth, defense attorney Alan Jackson wrote in a court filing. Today it claims a membership of more than 5 million in some 50 nations. From the walls hang photographs of Joaqun Garca, smiling and wearing a tuxedo. 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. 2023-01-18T23:28:35.547Z, Hand in hand with the Argentine Dakar champion Kevin Benavides 13-year-old girl leads Nebraska troopers on 100-mph chase. La Muz del Mundo is represented in over 58 countries and claims to have over 5 million followers. 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. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. All news articles on Some knelt and wept. A copy of this disclaimer can also be found on our Disclaimer page. Still, after 2019 she has already stated that she is not intended to be in a married relationship with her husband as whatever he did with all other girls and sexually abused different girls, the relationship with his wife is something that has no statement, so she has decided that she will not continue the marriage with her husband as she has supposed to be the most affected person in the entire scenario. 2023-01-18T22:40:34.753Z, 'Justice is perpetual': the claim during the tribute to Fernando Bez Sosa three years after the crime 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. Ruiz told The Associated Press that his family has belonged to La Luz del Mundo for three generations. 2023-01-18T23:16:40.793Z, The day Cristina explained why Nisman had been murdered Since having carried out harassment of minors, touching and rape. [3] [4] [5] Two days before his trial, Naasn Joaqun Garcia pleaded guilty to three charges related to sexually abusing children. [6] On June 8 2022 he was convicted and sentenced to 16 years and 8 months in prison. [7] Susana Medina Oaxaca and Alondra Ocampo were also charged. Their spiritual leader is behind bars in California after pleading guilty to sexually abusing minors. 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. The Daily Caller | 1775 Eye Street NW | Suite 1150-290 | Washington, DC 20006, (RELATED: Pastor Who Admitted To 1998 Sexual Assault Will Not Face Charges), (RELATED: DOJ Opens Investigation Into Roman Catholic Church Sex Abuse). | AL SEIB/AFP via Getty Images In this case, the court set bail for Joaqun Garca at $25 million. Explore More In Detail. Naasn Joaqun Garca, the leader of a Mexico-based evangelical church with a worldwide membership of more than 1 million appeared with his defense attorneys Ken Rosenfeld A fourth individual, Azalea Rangel Melendez, currently remains at large. So, if youre interested in finding out about Naasns current whereabouts and how he was apprehended, heres what we know about the same! An arrest warrant has also been issued for Azalea Rangel Melendez, who is currently at large. Naason Joaquin Garcia, leader of La Luz del Mundo church, in court in Los Angeles in 2020. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. When he was a famous personality, the family used to live together in California, and the family life of all these individuals was very successful. Oaxaca pleaded guilty to assault charges resulting in bodily harm, while Ocampo pleaded guilty in 2020 and still awaits sentencing. Flores was also the subject of child sex abuse allegations in 1997, but authorities in Mexico never filed criminal charges. Born on May 7, 1969, in Guadalajara, Mexico, Naasn Joaqun Garcia was the fifth of Mexican church leader Samuel Joaqun Flores eight children. Ocampo pleaded guilty in 2020 to counts 19, 20, 21, and 33. / CBS/AP. They decided to stay away in a local house and California, the familys residence, for a long time. "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. Furthermore, Susana and Alondra pled guilty to the charges against them. 2023-01-18T22:52:56.769Z, RBD gathers their fans in different parts of the world to share an important announcement 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. 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. 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. news 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 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. 2023-01-18T23:16:57.231Z, Thiago from 'Big Brother' asked for an exchange thermos: he received criticism and the memes exploded 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 He is the third apostle of the congregation after succeeding his father Samuel in power after his death on December 14, 2014. It should be recalled that just on March 15, a 211-page motion was filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court by defense attorney Alan Jackson, claiming that the California Prosecutor's Office fabricated incriminating evidence, created reports based on false evidence, erased and concealed exculpatory evidence.. The investigation began in 2018, in part, because of information submitted to the California Department of Justice through the clergy abuse online complaint form. Garcia pleaded guilty to counts 1, 7, and 9. 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. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. If you have any questions please contact: Bilingual Services Program at (916) 210-7580.
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