Mexican megachurch leader pleads guilty in LA to sex misuse

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Naasón Joaquín García, the leader of Mexican megachurch La Luz del Mundo, that had actually been encountering youngster rape as well as various other costs, confessed simply days prior to test that he sexually abused 3 women, California state district attorneys claimed.

García, 53, begged guilty Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court to 2 matters of physical dental copulation entailing minors as well as one matter of a salacious act on a youngster that was 15. He had actually encountered court option Monday in his test on costs that consisted of youngster rape as well as human trafficking to create youngster porn.

Garcia, leader of a church started by his grandpa that has 5 million globally fans, was taken into consideration the “apostle” of Jesus Christ that can lead worshippers to redemption.

District attorneys claimed he possessed his spiritual impact to make love with a number of women fans.

“García used his power to capitalize on kids,” Attorney general of the United States Rob Bonta claimed in a declaration. “He relied upon those around him to bridegroom congregants for the functions of sexual offense. Today’s sentence can never ever reverse the injury, however it will certainly aid shield future generations.”

The guilty appeal was a sudden turn of occasions from the strenuous rejections by his legal representatives as well as ardent assistance from the Guadalajara-based church that is additionally recognized by its English name, The Light of the Globe. The church as well as Garcia’s legal representatives did not promptly discuss the guilty appeal.

Garcia confronts 16 years as well as 8 months behind bars when punished Wednesday. He continues to be incarcerated on $90 million bond.

Garcia was jailed in 2019 as well as billed together with 2 ladies fans that were implicated helpful promote the misuse.

Along with encountering his accusers at test, Garcia was additionally encountering the possibility of needing to test among his associates.

Alondra Ocampo, that had actually begged guilty as well as confessed to aiding discover his targets as well as take part in the misuse, was positioned to affirm versus him.

Lawyer Fred Thiagarajah, that stands for the previous church young people team leader, claimed Ocampo would certainly have been the celebrity witness that can affirm the statement of targets as well as give context for the district attorney’s situation.

“She proactively hired as well as brushed women for him,” Thiagarajah claimed. “She would certainly target women as well as bring them right into his internal layer. She was entrusted with sexualizing these women as well as promoting their misuse.”

Ocampo informed women that if they rejected the dreams as well as wishes of “the apostle,” they were breaking God, according to the costs.

She motivated women to use revealing attire as well as dancing for Garcia, that after that “provided a speech regarding a king having girlfriends as well as mentioned that an apostle of God can never ever be evaluated for his activities,” the costs mentioned.

Ocampo informed 3 women that Garcia would certainly be pleased to obtain naked selfies of them as well as she also managed x-rated picture shoots of them touching each various other that she claimed would certainly be sent out to Garcia.

Garcia said thanks to the women for the pictures, according to court papers.

An additional women co-defendant that belonged to the church, Susana Medina Oaxaca, 27, begged guilty Friday to attack most likely to create fantastic physical injury, a violation.

Lawyer Rub Carey claimed Oaxaca had actually confronted ten years behind bars if founded guilty at test as well as the guilty appeal remained in her benefits.

“It was additionally an alleviation to place a 3-year procedure behind her instead of withstand an extensive court test, 98% of which engaged proof that had absolutely nothing to do with her,” Carey claimed in an e-mail.

Garcia had actually formerly begged innocent to 19 matters that consisted of physical rape of a small as well as illegal sex-related intercourse. A court had actually tossed out 4 matters of extortion as well as sentencing improvements for fantastic physical injury for absence of proof.

Ocampo, 39, was billed with most of the very same matters as Garcia — in addition to surcharges. She begged guilty to 3 matters of call with a small for a sex-related crime as well as one matter of physical sex-related infiltration entailing 4 accusers. She will certainly offer 4 years behind bars under the contract with district attorneys, Thiagarajah claimed.

Defense attorney had actually claimed district attorneys were running under an unlikely lawful concept that Garcia made use of spiritual threat for sex-related satisfaction.

“District attorneys have actually duplicated advertisement nauseum their unique concept that most of criminal activities butted in this situation took place not due to physical restriction, physical pressure, or concern of physical pressure however due to the fact that the grumbling witnesses had nothing else option however to conform due to the fact that they were under the total psychological as well as spiritual thrall of Mr. Garcia as well as the La Luz Del Mundo Church,” defense lawyer Alan Jackson created in a court declaring. “It is a dream apparently created out of entire fabric.”

District attorneys claimed the targets were basically persuaded by Garcia as well as felt they would certainly be rejected by the insular church area if they didn’t send to his wishes. In refuting a protection activity to disregard the situation, a court claimed Garcia made use of religious beliefs as “unseen manacles” to manipulate his targets.

Garcia’s grandpa started the Guadalajara-based fundamentalist Christian church in 1926.
The church has actually attempted to grow a righteous, tireless picture in Mexico — where it counts around 1.8 million fans. Its male participants prefer fits as well as brief hair, as well as women participants use shrouds that cover their hair as well as small gowns. There have to do with 1 million U.S. participants.

Garcia took control of as “apostle” after his daddy, Samuel Joaquín Flores, passed away in 2014.
Flores was additionally the topic of youngster sex misuse claims in 1997, however authorities in Mexico never ever submitted criminal costs.

Ocampo claimed she was sexually abused by Flores, Thiagarajah claimed.

Ocampo had actually encountered a great deal of stress from the church area as well as her very own family members when she activated Garcia, Thiagarajah claimed. Ocampo’s mommy claimed she doesn’t think her as well as implicated her of benefiting Satan.

“This church is an extremely dark organization,” Thiagarajah claimed. “The range of the misuse this individual has actually dedicated on ladies as well as kids is incredible as well as it’s been taking place for generations.”