Latin America

Judi Lynn

(160,621 posts) Tue Jun 7, 2022, 02:52 AM Jun 2022

See anything similar between these mens' decorating tastes?

⭐️⭐️⭐️

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On edit: I forgot to mention this individual was born in Mexico:

"Joaquín García was born on May 7, 1969 in the Mexican city of Guadalajara, Jalisco, the fifth of seven children to Samuel Joaquín Flores and Eva García.[2]"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naas%C3%B3n_Joaqu%C3%ADn_Garc%C3%ADa#cite_note-1

Alondra Ocampo, a co-defendent

The leader of a prominent Christian megachurch pleaded guilty to multiple child sexual abuse charges on earlier this week.

As Law&Crime previously reported, Garcia styles himself as the “apostle” of the Church of the Living God, Pillar and Ground of the Truth, The Light of the World, which claims membership in excess of five million throughout the United States and dozens of other countries. He was indicted by the California Attorney General’s Office on sex trafficking charges and arrested in the summer of 2019.

The church is based in Mexico.

“Today’s conviction sends a clear message that sexual exploitation is never acceptable in California,” Attorney General Rob Bonta (D) said in a statement. “We will hold you accountable if you break the law. As the leader of La Luz del Mundo, Naasón Joaquín García used his power to take advantage of children. He relied on those around him to groom congregants for the purposes of sexual assault.”

In October 2020, co-defendant, Alondra Ocampo, one of at least four co-defendants in the case against García, pleaded guilty to four felony counts involving the sexual abuse of minors. Investigators, citing five underage victims, described Ocampo as a “handmaiden” who groomed girls and sexually abused them before forcing them to sexually abuse other minor girls who were part of the apostle’s flock.

More:
https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/after-repeatedly-proclaiming-his-innocence-and-claiming-he-was-framed-megachurch-pastor-pleads-guilty-to-child-sexual-abuse/

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La Luz del Mundo Church Leader Accused of Sex Crimes
Former Santa Maria Pastor Naasón Joaquín García Charged with 25 Felony Counts

By Blanca Garcia
Sun Jun 09, 2019 | 12:22pm

Naasón Joaquín García (50), Susana Medina Oaxaca (24), Alondra Ocampo (36), and Azalea Rangel Melendez have been charged with 26 felony counts including sex trafficking, rape, and sexual abuse of minors.

Former Santa Maria pastor and La Luz Del Mundo church leader Naasón Joaquín García, 50, was arrested June 3 and is being accused of rape, sex abuse, and sexual trafficking for the production of child pornography. He and three female codefendants, Alondra Ocampo (36), Azalea Rangel Melendez, and Susana Medina Oaxaca (24), are being charged with 26 felony counts involving three minors and one adult. The codefendants and victims are members or children of members of the international Pentecostal church, said California Attorney General Xavier Becerra. It is alleged that García coerced victims into complying with his demands by leveraging his power as church leader. The alleged crimes took place between 2015 and 2018 in Los Angeles County. However, during a press conference on June 6, Becerra said that he believes there are many more victims.

Several chapters of the church have formed in Santa Barbara County, including one in Santa Maria, where García served as a pastor in the early 2000s, and a church in the City of Santa Barbara. García used to frequent the Santa Barbara church when he was the pastor in Santa Maria, but he hasn’t visited in about 10 years, said Ismael Mendez, the Santa Barbara chapter pastor.

In a sit-down interview with Mendez and his wife, Evelia Mendez, the church leaders expressed to the Independent their unfaltering commitment to García’s presumption of innocence. “We welcome an investigation” they said. “We pray for the investigators so that they may discover the truth.” Before the interview, Mendez led about 30 members in their Thursday service, in which they prayed for García and asserted his presumption of innocence. “I can tell you with my eyes closed that [García] is pure,” said Mendez, who knows García personally. García is always traveling and surrounded by many people, the couple said, and they questioned when he would have had time to commit these crimes.

Garica is currently being held on a $50 million bail, the highest amount ever imposed on an individual in L.A. County, according to Becerra. The bail amount is in part due to the seriousness of the allegations and also out of concern that his congregation would raise the money to bail him out. The church has at least seven million members in more than 50 countries, said Mendez. The great majority of the members share Mendez’s sentiment that García, who is regarded as the living apostle of God, is being wrongly accused. Mendez and his wife interpret the high bail as a sign of intolerance against the organization. “That bail amount isn’t even set that high for terrorists,” said Mendez.

Former Santa Maria pastor and La Luz Del Mundo church leader Naasón Joaquín García, 50, was arrested June 3 and is being accused of rape, sex abuse, and sexual trafficking for the production of child pornography. He and three female codefendants, Alondra Ocampo (36), Azalea Rangel Melendez, and Susana Medina Oaxaca (24), are being charged with 26 felony counts involving three minors and one adult. The codefendants and victims are members or children of members of the international Pentecostal church, said California Attorney General Xavier Becerra. It is alleged that García coerced victims into complying with his demands by leveraging his power as church leader. The alleged crimes took place between 2015 and 2018 in Los Angeles County. However, during a press conference on June 6, Becerra said that he believes there are many more victims.

Several chapters of the church have formed in Santa Barbara County, including one in Santa Maria, where García served as a pastor in the early 2000s, and a church in the City of Santa Barbara. García used to frequent the Santa Barbara church when he was the pastor in Santa Maria, but he hasn’t visited in about 10 years, said Ismael Mendez, the Santa Barbara chapter pastor.

In a sit-down interview with Mendez and his wife, Evelia Mendez, the church leaders expressed to the Independent their unfaltering commitment to García’s presumption of innocence. “We welcome an investigation” they said. “We pray for the investigators so that they may discover the truth.” Before the interview, Mendez led about 30 members in their Thursday service, in which they prayed for García and asserted his presumption of innocence. “I can tell you with my eyes closed that [García] is pure,” said Mendez, who knows García personally. García is always traveling and surrounded by many people, the couple said, and they questioned when he would have had time to commit these crimes.

Garica is currently being held on a $50 million bail, the highest amount ever imposed on an individual in L.A. County, according to Becerra. The bail amount is in part due to the seriousness of the allegations and also out of concern that his congregation would raise the money to bail him out. The church has at least seven million members in more than 50 countries, said Mendez. The great majority of the members share Mendez’s sentiment that García, who is regarded as the living apostle of God, is being wrongly accused. Mendez and his wife interpret the high bail as a sign of intolerance against the organization. “That bail amount isn’t even set that high for terrorists,” said Mendez.

More:
https://www.independent.com/2019/06/09/la-luz-del-mundo-church-leader-accused-of-sex-crimes/