The leader of the Mexican megachurch La Luz del Mundo was sentenced to 16 years and eight months in prison in California for sexually abusing three girls from his congregation.
Pastor Naasón Joaquín García, 53, considered an “apostle” of Jesus Christ by his five million followers, had fought the charges, which included child rape. But on the eve of trial he abruptly agreed to a plea deal.
Last Friday, Garcia pleaded guilty in Los Angeles Superior Court to two counts of forced oral intercourse involving minors and one count of a lewd act against a 15-year-old girl.
Prosecutors said the defendant took advantage of his spiritual influence to have sexual relations with several female parishioners, and that other members of his church had helped him achieve these abuses.
A former church youth group leader, Alondra Ocampo, who previously pleaded guilty to abusing the girls, was accused of encouraging young girls to wear skimpy outfits to perform “flirtatious” dances for Garcia. Ocampo also orchestrated photo shoots for Garcia, in which they appeared nude touching each other, according to the charges.
Ocampo told the girls that if they rejected the wishes and desires of the “apostle”, they would go against God. “She actively recruited and groomed the girls for him,” her attorney said. “She would seek out the girls and bring them into her inner fold. She was tasked with sexualizing these girls and facilitating their abuse.”
Garcia was due to stand trial Monday on 19 counts, which also included accusations of human trafficking to produce child pornography. A judge dismissed four counts of racketeering and increased sentences for grievous bodily harm for lack of evidence.
Defense attorneys have said prosecutors were operating under a wild legal theory that Garcia used spiritual coercion to gain sexual pleasure. “It’s a fantasy that seems to come out of nowhere,” attorney Alan Jackson wrote in a court document.
