Naason Joaquin Garcia appears in court in Los Angels on Monday, June 10, 2019. Prosecutors in a case against the leader of Mexico-based megachurch La Luz del Mundo and two followers charged with child rape and human trafficking said they have “significant concerns” the church’s followers could harass or intimidate victims and potential witnesses. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times via AP, Pool)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The leader of Mexican megachurch La Luz del Mundo is scheduled to return court Friday in a child rape and human trafficking case.
Naasón Joaquín García and his co-defendants were arrested earlier this month on suspicion of child rape, statutory rape, molestation, human trafficking, child pornography and extortion. The charges in the 26-count felony complaint detail allegations involving three girls and one woman between 2015 and 2018 in Los Angeles County.
The defendants will appear in Los Angeles Superior Court for an arraignment and bail review hearing.
Joaquín García, Susana Medina Oaxaca and Alondra Ocampo have not yet entered pleas, though their attorneys have denied any wrongdoing. They have appeared in superior court twice already.
Joaquín García is being held on $50 million bail, believed to be the highest ever set in Los Angeles County.
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra has said he believes there might be more victims in the case and urged them to come forward. He repeatedly called Joaquín García “sick” and “demented,” which defense attorneys claim may have tainted a potential jury.
Prosecutors have asked a judge to bar the defense attorneys from working closely and sharing information with members of the church. Deputy Attorney General Amanda Plisner said the attorney general’s office also is worried the church may try to identify the victims.
The defense attorneys have said the request is inappropriate. Judge Francis Bennett ordered the sides to compromise.
By STEFANIE DAZIO
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This is a real cult that preys on the poor. The pastors, bishops, and unconditionales of this false religion relentlessly request tithes from LLDM members so they can continue living their lavish lifestyles with new cars, fancy homes, exotic vacations, while frequenting expensive restaurants. I personally witnessed an elder man at the Logan Ave. location in San Diego walk on his knees going up to the the front of the church to kiss the pastor’s feet. Expose this cult church for what it really is. LLDM leaders are desperate to keep this cult a float. They already have a plan to replace their pedaphile sexual predator leader, Naason Joaquin Garcia, with another phony apostle to keep the money coming in. LLDM members run for your life, don’t believe any more lies coming out of this false money-making religion.