Church officials within the La Luz Del Mundo organization did not want to speak on the record, but they put out a statement to members about the latest legal developments in court, and asking them to all pray and thank God at 8 p.m. local time Tuesday. They have power, they have the money, she added. Webnaason joaquin garcia releasedwhinfell forest walks. 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. 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. Naason Joaquin Garcia is the international leader of a Pentecostal Christian religious group known as La Luz Del Mundo, or The Light of the World church. As to the defendant, I say: You are a sexual predator, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Ronald S. Coen told the court during his sentencing on Wednesday, the Associated Press. But criminal attorney Fred Thiagarajah,who at various points was involved on both sides of the case, noted the reality waiting for Garcain prison will likely be a stark awakening for the self-described Apostle, if not his followers. Here's Why It's Especially Dangerous To Hike SoCal Mountains Right Now. If you see something, report it and we will vigorously pursue justice.. 2022 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. 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. A copy of this disclaimer can also be found on our Disclaimer page. (Aaron Schrank/LAist), This picture taken on August 9, 2017 shows the leader of the Church of the Light of the World, Naason Joaquin Garcia (L), walking among his parishioners in Guadalajara, Mexico. At a hearing last fall, deputy attorney general Diana Callaghan said that processing some of the evidence to turn over to the defense team for discovery was a lengthy process, because the evidence included "child pornography as well as the names and locations of minor victims.". But then, the next month, in July, prosecutors added new a few new child pornography charges against Garcia, and had to re-charge and re-arraign him. Naasn Joaqun Garca, the self-proclaimed apostle of La Luz del Mundo, has denied wrongdoing. The sexual abuse allegations date back to at least 2015. [1], Joaqun Garca was born on May 7, 1969 in the Mexican city of Guadalajara, Jalisco, the fifth of seven children to Samuel Joaqun Flores and Eva Garca. 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. [emailprotected]. There are still many azalea Langermerendez, the fourth defendant previously charged with rape. "You have to follow certain steps to prove your loyalty.". 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.
These were the first criminal charges brought against Garcia. Naason Joaquin Garcia, the controversial leader of the 5 million-member Light of the World, who's accused of multiple sex crimes, including making sex videos with minor The case has been difficult for some former members who have distanced themselves from the church.
Please consult with a translator for accuracy if you are relying on the translation or are using this site for official business. "The apostle always shows determination to move forward," said Phares Ruiz, who traveled from El Salvador to attend the Holy Supper. Garcas defense team had previously denied prosecutors assertion that the disgraced megachurch leader had spiritually coerced his victims for the purposes of sexual gratification. 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. revocar-registros-religiosos-de-njg-pederasta-confeso, On June 3, 2019, Joaqun Garca was arrested and charged by prosecutors from Los Angeles County with sexual abuse charges involving minors. Among them?
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Led to the crimes charged against him strengthened the church has grown to encompass approximately 5 million followers the! Days before the trial, which was set to begin on Monday < >... You are relying on the translation or are using this site for official business California, his! Will help protect future generations our disclaimer page last year, so the ended..... 2022 CBS Interactive Inc. all Rights Reserved, sweepstakes, and more, ``! La Luz del Mundo court they called him `` evil '' and ``!I said She was only 14 and you replied I should have brought her to you sooner., In pronouncing his sentence, the judge criticized those who had turned their backs on the victims, saying Shame, shame on you., But none of that seemed to deter his followers and church leaders who claimed the prosecutions evidence was doctored and altered, as they reiterated their support for the man they call their Apostle. A statement from church leaders following the sentencing stated our confidence in him remains intact, comparing his prosecution to a path that God has placed in front of him for a reason, as he did for Apostle Paul.. The appeal only mentioned the dismissal of Garcas case and not those of his co-defendants, Susana Medina Oaxaca and Alondra Ocampo. Naasn Joaqun Garca, the self-proclaimed apostle of La Luz del Mundo, has been in custody since June following his arrest on accusations involving three girls and one woman between 2015 and 2018 in Los Angeles County. 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. [8], He was transferred to North Kern State Prison for evaluations to determine his placement within the prison system. [12]. Light of the World, which also lamented Garcas sentence, released a statement reiterating their support for the embattled spiritual leader. While its leader, Naasn Joaqun Garca, has been idolized by millions of followers as an apostle of God, he just pleaded guilty to child sex abuse charges in Los Because his religious registry is against Mexican Law now that he has been sentenced, there is currently a petition to remove his name from both The Light of The World church (iglesia La Luz del Mundo) and the Levitical Fraternity (Fraternidad Levtico) in that country.
william campbell cause of death; tracy waterfield daughter of jane russell; pro bnp to bnp conversion calculator; black river az . Scherer is a circuit judge for Florida. Garcia began leading the church six years ago, after his father died. "He used me over and over again like a sacrificial lamb taken to slaughter. 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. No sentence is harsh enough. So far he remains imprisoned in the United States. Martin claims she was groomed to be a child sex slave for Garcia's father Samuel, and that she was also sexually abused by Garcia. CBS Los Angeles reportedthe California Department of Justice arrested Joaqun Garcia and two other members of the church, Susana Medina Oaxaca and Alondra Ocampo, in 2019. It seems clear that many members of the church, founded in Mexico in 1926 and now active in many countries, aren't ready to abandon Joaqun Garca as their "apostle" - the term used for the church's leader. 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. Spanning the main street is a sculpture spelling "innocent" in Spanish. Sentencing is currently scheduled for Wednesday, June 8 at 8:30 a.m. Todays conviction sends a clear message that sexual exploitation is never acceptable in California. Garcia's lead attorney Alan Jackson said: 'In their zeal to secure a conviction at any cost, the Attorney General has sought to strip Mr. Garcia of his freedom without due process by locking him up without bail on the basis of unsubstantiated accusations by unnamed accusers and by denying him his day in court.". During the victims emotional testimony, the group of women who gave their statements anonymously described Garca as a monster, the anti-christ and an evil person comparable to disgusting human waste., I worshipped my abuser, stated Jane Doe 4, who said she was Garcas niece, according to the Associated Press. Garcia's lawyers then petitioned that denial to the court of appeal, which ruled that the case should have been dismissed because Garcia had not explicitly waived his right to a speedy trial after those second set of charges were added to the complaint against him. He is the third apostle of the congregation after succeeding his father Samuel in power after his death on December 14, 2014. Susana Medina Oaxaca appears in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Friday, June 21, 2019. On Friday, Naason Joaquin Garcia, the 53-year old leader of a Mexico-based Megachurch, confessed to 3 child abuse related charges in the Los Angeles Superior Court. The judge later rescinded the sanctions and overturned $10,000 in fines she had levied. Her daughter was born by emergency C-section. What was the procedural basis? 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. What are the options for the prosecutors in this case? 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. "I did cry, because I was saying, 'God, deliver me from this, make this time pass quickly,'" Haifa said from Texas. Todays sentence for Naasn Joaqun Garca is a critical step forward for justice, Attorney General Rob Bonta said in prepared remarks on June 8. Similar accusations emerged in September last year, so the trial ended up being rescheduled for May 2022. Prosecutors consider Garcia to be the "apostle" of Jesus Christ by 5 million followers around the world, using his spiritual influence to lead to or reject salvation He said he had sex with a girl or young woman which was said to lead to punishment. The time to travel and study abroad is now!
On June 3, 2019, Joaqun Garca was arrested by a Los Angeles County prosecutor and charged with the sexual abuse of children.
Heres How To Start Your Search, Emmery Muoz, 14, Was Killed In LA 17 Years Ago. 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.". The laws are not tough enough. Theyve always supported this pedophile, this rapist, this criminal, and who himself just confessed that he was a pedophile. This Google translation feature is provided for informational purposes only. Two days before the trial, Naasn Joaqun Garcia pleaded guilty to three charges of child sexual abuse. "It has been a very difficult issue, of course, for him and for us," she added. "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. Currently, journalists are not allowed to attend services or take photographs inside the church's temples. Naasn Joaqun Garca, a former leader at La Luz del Mundo megachurch, pled guilty last week to multiple felony counts of sexual assault involving three separate minors. The conviction comes just days ahead of trial, which was set to begin on Monday. This led to the position of the organization, which requested the release of its leader through a statement. It accuses Joaqun Garca of conditioning victims, under the guise of religion, to serve him above all else, ultimately resulting in the sexual abuse over the course of several years. [6] On June 8, 2022, he was convicted and sentenced to 16 years and 8 months in prison. Prosecutors and the trial court thought they had the time waiver on Garcia, from his first arraignment, but they did not, according to the court of appeal, Part of the reason for the delay in prosecution, the defense argued, was that the California Attorney General's office, which is prosecuting the case, did not deliver all their evidence over to the defense team on time, according to the decision.
So what happens next? Our news is free on LAist. ", First published on September 19, 2022 / 8:20 AM. Naason Joaqun Garcia was arrested at the airport in Los Angeles, California, in June 2019. Garca, 53, who pleaded guilty last week to sexual abuse, was dealt a 16-year sentence in Los Angeles Superior Court Wednesday, prosecutors announced. Millions of the churchs followers regard Garca as the apostle of Jesus Christ. But in court they called him "evil" and a "monster," "disgusting human waste" and the "antichrist. Todays conviction can never undo the harm, but it will help protect future generations. Defendants facing state criminal allegations are eligible for bail in most cases, allowing them to await future court dates out of police custody if they have the financial resources to post bail. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. Find more about the abuse case. Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Ronald S. Coen listens to victim statements before the sentencing of Naasn Joaqun Garca on June 8, 2022. "Knowing that these abuses took place there, in my happy place, in my safe place, is horrible," she said. Susana Medina Oaxaca and Alondra Oaxaca were also charged. 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. Prosecutors said that the crimes dated back to at least 2015. His hearing was postponed several times in some instances, because prosecutors had not turned over evidence to the defense as he remained held without bail, prompting his attorneys to file an appeal. After the court determined he was a flight risk, The attorney generals office said it was reviewing the courts ruling and did not answer additional questions. There are dozens of temples in Southern California, where Garcia and his family have lived in recent years. The arrests and charges announced today were the result of an investigation initiated by the California Department of Justice. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Theyre still using this power they have to manipulate, use and control these people, Martin told the Law&Crime Networks Chief Investigative Correspondent Brian Ross. A federal case file report has stated that church leader Joaqun Garca and his father regularly sexually abused a girl in Southern California between the ages of 12 and 18. "For us everything is very nice, everything continues to work," she said. And it shouldnt be, the lawyer continued. The church's doctrine is learned from the cradle. 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. "I think it changed for the better in the sense that now we feel more united, and we feel more empowered," she said. He pleaded out to a trio of charges, including two counts of forcible oral copulation involving minors and one count of a lewd act upon a child who was 15 years old, according to a criminal complaint obtained by Oxygen.com. Joaqun Garca was held on $50 million bail, Ocampo on $25 million, and Oaxaca remained free on bail. Only in September 2020 did the man plead not guilty to the crimes charged against him. When that suit was filed, a church leader called it a "ploy for attention" and evidence of "hatred being manifested towards the Church" because it came during the organization's "biggest and holiest event.". Why, exactly, were the charges dismissed? Garcia pleaded guilty to counts 1, 7, and 9. The RICO suit names him, the organization called Light of the World, his mother, his wife, his brother, and many of the leaders of the organization.
It is a fantasy seemingly invented out of whole cloth, defense attorney Alan Jackson wrote in a court filing, according to the Associated Press. A judge on Monday set a Sept. 27 trial date for Naason Joaquin Garcia, the head of La Luz del Mundo church, who faces a slew of sex abuse charges. Fred Warner is a professional football linebacker with the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football L 10 Movies Like Prom Pact For This Prom Season, 10 Detroit Hood Movies on Tubi To Get You Through The Weekend, Orlando Arcia Wife Elena Arcia Is A Mom To Twin Daughters, Top 5 All Time Grand Slam Leaders In Baseball.
OAKLAND California Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced securing a guilty plea and conviction against Naasn Joaqun Garca, the leader of La Luz del Mundo, for multiple felony counts of sexual assault involving three separate minors. Efforts to fight human trafficking have also included taking on labor exploitation.
He is currently charged on more than 30 counts, including possession of child Ocampo will be sentenced at a later date. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now. "It is not sufficient to say 'I have converted' or "I have baptized'" she said. 2023 Southern California Public Radio - All Rights Reserved, Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter, DA Files Criminal Charges Against 7 CHP Officers In Death Of Man Detained For Suspected DUI, How 3 LA Kids Embraced R&B, Went To South Korea And Revolutionized K-Pop, Orange County Homes On Precipice Of Disaster As Record-Setting Rain Hits Southern California Hard, Auf Wiedersehen, Alpine Village. April Valentine died at Centinela Hospital. Those born in the community are baptized at 14 because, according to the church, that lets them decide whether to reaffirm or leave the faith. It should be remembered that Naason Joaquin Garcia has been imprisoned in Los Angeles, California, United States, since June 3, 2019, the date on which he was captured for the 25 charges against him. A California appeals court ordered the dismissal of a criminal case Tuesday against a Mexican megachurch leader on charges of child rape and human trafficking on procedural grounds. 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. She'd gone into the pregnancy with a plan, knowing Black mothers like herself were at higher risk. Post Author: Post published: 21st May 2022 Post Category: best catfish rig for river bank fishing Post Comments: naason joaquin garcia released naason joaquin garcia released Olive Oil + Orange Juice + Soy Sauce & Granulated Garlic. In their zeal to secure a conviction at any cost, the Attorney General has sought to strip Mr. Garcia of his freedom without due process by locking him up without bail on the basis of unsubstantiated accusations by unnamed accusers and by denying him his day in court, Jackson said in a statement. The dismissal is the latest in a series of blunders on this high-profile case for the attorney generals office. Also, a February federal lawsuit against the church and Joaqun Garca alleging that he and his father sexually abused a Southern California girl regularly from the time she was twelve until she was eighteen is still pending. Sochil Martin, a former La Luz del Mundo member who has filed a civil RICO suit against Garcaand LLDM alleging sexual abuse and other crimes, was highly critical of the plea deal, and compared the church to a mafia-type organization that would continue to operate despite Garcas imprisonment. Joaqun Garca, 53, was arrested in 2019 in California. Joaqun Garca was born on May 7, 1969 in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, the fifth of seven children, Samuel Joaqun Flores and Eva Garca . Please consult with a translator for accuracy if you are relying on the translation or are using this site for official business. "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.". The Top 5 newsletter catches you up with LAs top 5 stories in just 3 minutes. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. The church has grown to encompass approximately 5 million followers across the globe, per the Associated Press. Give your students the gift of international friendships. The other individuals named in the complaint are Alondra Ocampo, Azalea Rangel Melendez, and Susana Medina Oaxaca, all of whom are affiliated with La Luz Del Mundo. A fourth defendant, Azalea Rangel Melendez, remains at large. Castillo, a recently married woman of 25, told AP the church advises members how "to lead a decent life," in which women may not drink alcohol or go out on frequent dates. Its not me thats doing this, this is what God wants you to do, Thiagarajah told Brian Ross. The church said Garca took a plea deal because he claimed his forthcoming trial had been rigged against him. Edward Bronstein died in March 2020 while officers were forcibly taking a blood sample after his detention. Thank you. If youve ever dreamed of living and studying abroad or hosting a student, dont let anything stand in your way.
The lawsuit will continue despite the dismissal, the womans lawyers said Tuesday in a statement. Fans suspected Bianca of cheating on Tate when they were together. Naason Joaquin Garcia was arrestedin L.A. this past summer and charged with child sexual abuse and human trafficking. In it, she said Garca, 50, and his father sexually abused her for 18 years starting when she was 12, manipulating Bible passages to convince her the mistreatment actually was a gift from God. Going up there right now isn't safe, but here are some places where you can enjoy the view and snap a pic. Naason Joaquin Garcia was arrested in L.A. this past summer and charged with child sexual abuse and human trafficking. Has Garcia faced allegations like this before, in his time as the leader of La Luz Del Mundo? via telephone and email Thursday afternoon. He denied the charges and pleaded not guilty. Nassn Joaqun continues to be the leader of La Luz del Mundo church and one of the most powerful ministers of worship in Mexico. The court of appeal did not rule on Garcia's guilt or innocence. He was denied bail and booked into Twin Towers in downtown L.A. Get our daily newsletter for the latest on COVID-19 and other top local headlines. Please enter valid email address to continue. 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. (W)e are not to point fingers or accuse anyone, we must practice the Christian values that identify us, such as patience, prudence, respect and love of God, they said. Nor did the court find in dismissing the case against Garcia that prosecutors did not have enough evidence against him to prosecute the case against him. April 14, 2022 Naasn Joaqun Garca, who was the leader of La Luz del Mundo church, remains a prisoner in the United States, awaiting the start of his trial for various crimes against him. Many believe he was sent by God to preach to them and are convinced he is innocent, despite his guilty plea. Shop Owners Pack Up On Notice That Longtime German American Hub Is Closing, Southern California's Snow-Capped Mountains Are Beautiful. WATCH LIVE: Miguel Ruiz Lobo death penalty trial for 2014 murder of ex-girlfriends 11-year-old daughter, Law&Crime Looks Ahead to 10 Remarkable Criminal Trials Scheduled for the First Half of 2023, 9 Shocking Times Defendants Testified at Trial, 10 Most Memorable Law&Crime Network Trials, Cash App creator and tech exec stabbed to death while in San Francisco for quick visit, Stormy Daniels ordered to pay Donald Trump more than $121,000 on the day his indictment unsealed, In historic case against Donald Trump, Woman-1 isnt who you might suppose, Woman was visiting D.C. for concert, but man allegedly barged into her hotel room and stabbed her to death, Inside the autopsy: Pathologist who oversaw Stephen Smiths second autopsy describes process, 'Hello, I just shot someone': Florida strip mall owner charged with murder after admittedly shooting man who was urinating on his building, DA breaks silence after family of 2-year-old boy shot on California freeway outraged by case and Chinese Communities email, Justice Thomas accused of breaking the law by going on secret 'superyacht' trips, and his billionaire pal had a telling response, 'Predator' sent to prison after Good Samaritan hears 10-year-old girl's screams in minivan outside of Big Lots, Steroid-selling ex-Jeffrey Epstein cellmate and cop convicted of executing 4 men, burying bodies in 'mass grave', Texas synagogue arsonist who confessed to crime in his journal pleads guilty to hate crime charges, Steroid-selling ex-Jeffrey Epstein cellmate and cop convicted of executing 4 men, burying bodies in mass grave, Live updates: Lori Vallow jury selection for triple murder trial expected to wrap Friday, Accused Delphi murderer claims jailers treat him like a prisoner of war in effort to drive him to a mental breakdown. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. Sarthak Karki Nearly all closed their eyes. Plisner and Callaghan were additionally sanctioned by a Superior Court judge in September, who said they had violated a court order in failing to give defense lawyers evidence. Ruiz told The Associated Press that his family has belonged to La Luz del Mundo for three generations. 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 jailed leader is the grandson of La Luz del Mundo's founder: Eusebio Joaqun Gonzlez, a member of the military who began preaching in 1926. Garcias has denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty, all along. 
If you have any questions please contact: Bilingual Services Program at (916) 210-7580. [9] He will soon face a civil trial for such crimes as human trafficking and forced labor. Garca and Oaxaca were arrested at the Los Angeles International Airport upon arrival into the United States and Ocampo was also arrested separately in Los Angeles County. ", Jackson accused prosecutors of violating his client's "due process by locking him up without bail.". They bless the bread, the wine, and do other things as if he were here, although physically he is not.".
DON'T MISS ANY L.A. CORONAVIRUS NEWS Mismanagement, Sloppy Hiring Practices, Lack Of Transparency. That court denied his motion. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Additional allegations of the possession of child pornography in 2019 were later added. Every weekday, you'll get fresh, community-driven stories that catch you up with our independent local news. Church officials issued a statement welcoming the dismissal, with Garcia's lead attorney Alan Jackson calling it "a good day for justice. Nevertheless, there are former members who say their ceremony was not optional. This is not an organized religion, this is an organized institution of criminal activities thats been running for 96 years. In addition to Joaqun Garca, Alondra Ocampo and Susana Medina Oaxaca were also arrested. This comes after its weekly swap meet permanently shut down earlier this month. "He's firm in his convictions, and the church is firm as well in its purpose of moving forward.". She was re-elected, winning a six-term t Ariana Jalia is a Child actor who appeared in A Mouthful Of Air, a 2021 psychological thriller. We will always stand with Californians against injustice.. This biographical article about a Mexican religious figure is a stub. Discover another part of the world. The underground lair of La Luz del Mundos apostle The Hermosa Provincia temple in Mexico is a symbol of the power of La Luz del Mundo church, but it is also a Its always somebody elses fault.. "The church weaponized the faith of their most vulnerable members," said Jonati Joey Yedidsion, one of the lawyers handling the lawsuit. And unfortunately, I see a lot of lamentations of family and family members that are out online saying that they feel very sad, he said.But still just purely drinking from that information trough only from the Church. And how peoples lives are ruined in the guise of serving a supreme being.. To gasps of surprise, Joaqun Garca addressed the congregation by telephone from his Los Angeles prison, where he is serving a 16-year sentence. Jackson didnt immediately respond to requests for comment regarding his clients sentence when contacted by. Jackson didnt immediately respond to requests for comment regarding his clients sentence when contacted by Oxygen.com via telephone and email Thursday afternoon. Garca was first arrested at Los Angeles International Airport in 2019. He has denied wrongdoing. He initially faced more than 20 charges, but most were dismissed after a plea deal with prosecutors. (Aaron Schrank/LAist ), Church members profess Naason Joaquin Garcia's innocence with a display in front of La Luz Del Mundo's flagship temple and headquarters in Guadalajara. Sara Pozos, 49, is among many in the neighborhood who believe their leader's imprisonment has strengthened the church. Garca, 53, received a sentence of 16 years and 8 months in Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday.
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