LOS ANGELES – Naason Joaquin Garcia, leader of the Mexican megachurch La Luz del Mundo, who has been charged with child rape and other charges, admitted just days before the trial that he sexually raped three girls, the California State Prosecutor’s Office said.
Garcia, 53, pleaded guilty Friday in the Los Angeles Supreme Court to two counts of violent oral sex involving minors and one count of adultery against a 15-year-old child. He faced the selection of jurors Monday in a trial involving rape of children and human trafficking for the production of child pornography.
Garcia, leader of a church founded by his grandfather, which has 5 million followers worldwide, is considered an “apostle” of Jesus Christ who can lead worshipers to salvation. Prosecutors said he used his spiritual influence to have sex with several followers.
“Garcia is using his power to take advantage of the children,” Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a statement. “He relies on those around him to prepare his brothers for the purpose of sexual assault. Today’s verdict can never undo the damage, but it will help protect future generations. “
The guilty plea was a sharp turn of events from the vigorous denials of his lawyers and the fervent support of the Guadalajara-based church, also known as the Light of the World. Garcia’s church and lawyers did not immediately comment on the guilty plea.
Garcia faces up to 16 years and eight months in prison if convicted on Wednesday. He remains in prison on $ 90 million bail.
Garcia was arrested in 2019 and charged along with two female followers who were accused of helping facilitate the abuse.
In addition to facing his accusers in the trial, Garcia also faced the prospect of having to challenge one of his accomplices.
Alondra Ocampo, who pleaded guilty and pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting his victims and was involved in the violence, is ready to testify against him.
Lawyer Fred Tiagaraja, who represents the former leader of a church youth group, said Ocampo would be the main witness who could corroborate the victims’ testimonies and provide context for the prosecutor’s case.
“She was actively recruiting and preparing girls for him,” Tiagaraja said. “She would turn to the girls and bring them into his inner fold. She was tasked with sexualizing these girls and facilitating their violence. “
Ocampo told the girls that if they rejected the “apostle’s” wishes and desires, they were going against God, according to the accusations.
She encouraged the girls to wear skimpy outfits and dance for Garcia, who then “gave them a speech about a king who has lovers and said that God’s apostle can never be judged for his actions,” the indictment said.
Ocampo told three girls that Garcia would be happy to receive nude selfies from them and even organized pornographic photo sessions to touch each other, which she said would be sent to Garcia.
Garcia thanked the girls for the photos, according to court documents.
Another accused woman who was a member of the church, Susanna Medina Oaxaca, 27, pleaded guilty Friday to assault that could cause grievous bodily harm, a crime.
Lawyer Pat Kerry said Oaxaca faces 10 years in prison if convicted in the trial and pleading guilty is in her best interests.
“It was also a relief to leave a 3-year trial behind instead of enduring a lengthy jury trial, 98% of which included evidence that had nothing to do with her,” Kerry said in an email.
Garcia has previously pleaded not guilty to 19 counts, including forcible rape of a minor and illegal sexual intercourse. A judge dismissed four charges of extortion and stepping up a sentence for grievous bodily harm for lack of evidence.
Ocampo, 39, has been charged with many of the same charges as Garcia, as well as additional charges. She pleaded guilty to three counts of contact with a minor for a sexual offense and one charge of sexual assault involving four prosecutors. She will serve four years in prison under an agreement with prosecutors, Tiagaraja said.
Defense attorneys said prosecutors were acting on an exaggerated legal theory that Garcia had used spiritual coercion for sexual pleasure.
“The prosecutors reiterated ad nauseum their new theory that most of the crimes charged in this case were committed not out of physical restraint, physical force or fear of physical force, but because the applicants’ witnesses had no choice but to comply, as they were under the complete mental and spiritual bondage of Mr. Garcia and the church of La Luz Del Mundo, “wrote defense attorney Alan Jackson in a lawsuit. “It’s a fantasy seemingly made up of a whole fabric.”
Prosecutors said the victims were essentially brainwashed by Garcia and believe they will be ostracized by the island’s church community if they do not comply with his wishes. Rejecting the defense’s request to close the case, the judge said Garcia used religion as “invisible handcuffs” to exploit his victims.
Garcia’s grandfather founded the Guadalajara-based fundamentalist Christian church in 1926.
The church has tried to cultivate a law-abiding, hard-working image in Mexico – where it has about 1.8 million followers. Its male members prefer suits and short hair, while women wear veils that cover their hair and modest dresses. There are about 1 million members in the United States.
Garcia took over as “apostle” after his father, Samuel Joaquin Flores, died in 2014.
Flores was also charged with child sexual abuse in 1997, but Mexican authorities have never filed criminal charges.
Ocampo said she was sexually abused by Flores, Tiagaraja said.
Ocampo faced great pressure from the church community and his own family when he turned against Garcia, Tiagaraja said. Ocampo’s mother said she did not believe her and accused her of working for Satan.
“This church is a very dark institution,” Tiagaraja said. “The scale of the violence this man has inflicted on women and children has been staggering and has been going on for generations.
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