Megachurch leader faces federal child pornography charges.
OAN’s Abril Elfi
1:09 PM – Thursday, October 26, 2023
A Mexican megachurch leader who is currently serving time in prison was charged with two federal charges.
Prosecutors announced that mega church leader Naasón Joaquín García, 54, who is serving more than 16 years in a California prison for sexually abusing young followers, was charged on Wednesday with two federal crimes involving a 16-year-old girl.
According to a statement from the U.S. attorney’s office, the federal charges given by a federal grand jury in Los Angeles are for possessing and producing child pornography.
“We did not indict until after the state case was finished,” the U.S. attorney’s office said.
García was the head of the La Luz del Mundo, which reportedly claims to have 5 million followers worldwide and considered García to be an “apostle” of god.
Prosecutors stated that the 54-year-old would use his spiritual sway to have sex with young women telling them that it would “lead to their salvation.”
Last year, he pleaded guilty to two state counts of forcible oral copulation involving minors and one count of a lewd act upon a 15-year-old.
In exchange, prosecutors in California dropped 16 counts, including claims of raping children and women, as well as human trafficking to create child pornography.
The church stated at the time that García pleaded guilty because he did not believe he would receive a fair trial after prosecutors withheld or doctored evidence, and the accord would allow him to be released sooner.
If convicted, García faces up to 15 to 30 years in prison for producing the child pornography and up to 10 years for having it.
The former leader is currently serving his prior sentence at the California Institution for Men in Chino.
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How did federal prosecutors determine the timing to bring forth the federal charges?
Title: Mexican Megachurch Leader Serving Time in Prison Faces Additional Federal Charges
Introduction
Naasón Joaquín García, the leader of the Mexican megachurch La Luz del Mundo, is currently serving a prison sentence for sexually abusing young followers. Recently, federal prosecutors announced that García has been charged with two additional federal crimes related to a 16-year-old girl. This article will explore the charges against García and the background of the case.
The Federal Charges
According to prosecutors, a federal grand jury in Los Angeles indicted García for possessing and producing child pornography. These charges came after the conclusion of the state case against him. The U.S. attorney’s office emphasized that they waited until the state trial was over before proceeding with federal charges.
Background of Naasón Joaquín García and La Luz del Mundo
García, 54 years old, was the head of La Luz del Mundo, a megachurch that boasts approximately 5 million followers worldwide. Within the organization, García was revered as an “apostle” of God. However, prosecutors allege that García used his position of spiritual authority to engage in sexual relations with young women, convincing them that it would lead to their salvation.
Previous Charges and Plea Deal
In the past year, García pleaded guilty to two counts of forcible oral copulation involving minors and one count of a lewd act upon a 15-year-old. In return for his guilty plea, California prosecutors dropped 16 counts, including charges of rape, adult and child trafficking, and the creation of child pornography. The church claimed that García agreed to the plea deal due to concerns of unfair trial proceedings and manipulated evidence.
Potential Consequences
If convicted of the federal charges, García could face up to 15 to 30 years in prison for producing child pornography and up to 10 years for possession. Currently, he is serving his previous sentence at the California Institution for Men in Chino.
Conclusion
The case against Naasón Joaquín García, the leader of La Luz del Mundo, continues with the additional federal charges of possessing and producing child pornography. This has caused further scrutiny on the megachurch and its practices. The outcome of the trial will determine the fate of García and shed light on the alleged sexual abuses within the organization.
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