Naason Joaquin Garcia, leader of a Christian cult founded in Mexico, “The Light of the World”, pleaded guilty to sexually abusing three underage girls in California, the prosecutor of this American state announced on Friday June 3.
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Naason Joaquin Garcia, 53, was arrested for crimes committed between 2015 and 2018 when he was head of “The Light of the World”, an international religious organization headquartered in Mexico that claims more than one million followers worldwide. The leader and two co-defendants, who also pleaded guilty to abusing underage girls, were accused of forcing the victims to perform sexual acts by telling them that “if they were against the desires or wishes of “the Apostle”, title given to Garcia, “they opposed God”.
After the arrest of Naason Joaquin Garcia, the organization “The light of the world” had “categorically denied” the charges against his “international president”. But the latter concluded an agreement on Friday to “plead guilty” and as such he was formally sentenced for acts of rape on two minors and a case of sexual assault on a child aged fifteen at the time, indicates California Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a statement.
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“As the leader of the “Light of the World”, Naason Joaquin Garcia used his power to abuse children. He relied on those around him to groom worshipers for sexual assault.”, denounced Rob Bonta. The trial of Naason Joaquin Garcia and the two co-defendants was to open Monday in Los Angeles. All three should be fixed next week on their sentence.