Naasón Joaquín García

Naasón Merarí Joaquín García (born on May 7, 1969) is a Mexican religious leader who is the third leader of the La Luz del Mundo church, succeeding his father, Samuel Joaquín Flores, in December 2014.[1]

Naasón Joaquín García
International Director of the La Luz del Mundo Church
Assumed office
December 14, 2014
Preceded bySamuel Joaquín Flores
Personal details
Born (1969-05-07) 7 May 1969
Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Spouse(s)Alma Zamora
ParentsSamuel Joaquín Flores
Eva García López
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Joaquín and the second or maternal family name is García.

Early life

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]

Career

Before becoming the head of the La Luz del Mundo at 45, he was (most recently) a minister for the group in Santa Ana, California, and previously served as minister for other of the group’s congregations in cities throughout California and Arizona.[2]

On June 3, 2019, Joaquín García was arrested and charged by prosecutors from Los Angeles County with sexual abuse charges involving minors.[3][4][5] As of January 2020, he was still being held without bail pending trial.[6] According to Religion News Service, "Church members have maintained his innocence."[7]

On April 7, 2020, a California appeals court ruled that the charges against Joaquín García should be dismissed because delays in scheduling his preliminary hearing had constituted a violation of his right to a speedy trial. The state Attorney General's office issued this statement: "To be clear the case is still pending. The appellate decision is not final for 30 days from when it was issued and the defendant is still in custody." [8]

Three dozen felony charges against Joaquín García were refiled on July 28, 2020, including child rape and human trafficking. Susana Medina Oaxaca and Alondra Ocampo were also charged. Joaquín García was held on $50 million bail, Ocampo on $25 million, and Oaxaca remained free on bail. A fourth defendant, Azalea Rangel Melendez, who was previously charged with rape, is still at-large. Also, a February federal lawsuit against the church and Joaquín García that alleges that Joaquín García and his father sexually abused a Southern California woman regularly from the time she was twelve until she was eighteen is still pending.[9] On August 19, 2020 Joaquín García was charged with 36 felony offences.[10]

Personal life

He is married to Alma Zamora and they have three children.[11]

References
  1. "Naasón Merarí Joaquín García: El "apóstol" del poder". Eje Central (in Spanish). 2019-06-06. Retrieved 2020-02-24.
  2. "Es Naasón Joaquín García, nuevo líder de La Luz del Mundo". Cronica Jalisco (in Spanish). 15 December 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  3. Garcia, Blanca (9 June 2019). "La Luz del Mundo Church Leader Accused of Sex Crimes". Santa Barbara Independent. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  4. Cosgrove, Jaclyn; Johnson, Reed; Miller, Leila (4 June 2019). "Leader of La Luz Del Mundo religious group arrested on suspicion of rape, child porn". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  5. Miller, Leila (22 June 2019). "Sex abuse charges against La Luz del Mundo leader are the 'tip of the iceberg,' prosecutors say". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  6. Miller, Leila (16 July 2019). "Citing new evidence, judge angrily denies bail for leader of La Luz del Mundo church". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  7. Molina, Alejandra (24 January 2020). "La Luz del Mundo will continue to host US ceremony while leader remains in jail". Religion News Service. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  8. "Megachurch leader remains in jail after court dismissal as prosecutors weigh options". abc.com. 8 April 2020. Retrieved 2020-04-12.
  9. "Child rape charges refiled against Mexican megachurch leader". AP NEWS. 31 July 2020. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  10. Gorman, Steve (August 19, 2020). "Mexico-based church leader ordered to stand trial on sex crime charges". Los Angeles, California: Swissinfo. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  11. "Naasón Joaquín García: quién es líder de La Luz del Mundo (biografía)". www.milenio.com. Retrieved 2020-02-24.
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