Megachurch Leader Convicted of Child Sexual Abuse

Megachurch leader Naason Joaquin Garcia has been sentenced to 16 years and eight months in jail after being convicted of child sexual abuse. 

There were originally 23 accusations against Garcia, but just a few days before his trial was about to begin, he entered a plea deal. He had pled guilty to two counts of forceful oral copulation involving children and one count of lewd with a 15-year-old. Naason will be behind bars until he is 69 years old, as he is currently 53 years old.

The abuse at La Luz del Mundo took place over a period of a few decades, with one victim claiming that she had been abused by Garcia for about 17 years.

Victims of child sexual abuse in California have rights. Call the California child sexual abuse attorney at Beck Law P.C. to learn more about what you can do after a child sexual abuse incident.

Convicted of Child Sexual Abuse – The Church and Its Leader

The Light of the World Church was founded by Garcia’s grandfather in 1926. García took over after his father died in 2014.

The Light of the World Church has a rather large following-about 5 million. Garcia as its leader was pictured as an apostle of Jesus Christ, and the church believes that, despite his crimes, Garcia is a true leader. In fact, some members of the church who were also arrested and convicted of child sexual abuse, aided and abetted their leader in his crimes. 

Even after Garcia’s conviction of child assault, the church maintains that Garcia is innocent and their “apostle of Jesus Christ” has been falsely accused. They mention that he pled guilty as he did not believe he’d be tried fairly.

Only a few victims have been able to speak up against this “Apostle,” and it is suspected that there may be many more whose faith in this man will not make them come out or speak out.

The Abuse and Its Consequences

Sexual assault is a problem that has been going on for centuries. Victims of sexual assault often feel ashamed and embarrassed to speak up about the abuse they endured. This can often lead to long-term psychological consequences for the victims. In some cases, the victims may feel so ashamed that they do not want to report the abuse to authorities.

Several victims, in this case, said that they still worshiped Garcia even after the abuse happened. Others felt embarrassed and ashamed after the abuse occurred. However, almost all of them were afraid to tell anyone about what happened because they were worried that no one would believe them. 

The consequences for the victims, going by their reports and statements, in this case, are some physical injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other mental health problems. Most of the victims have had difficulty forming relationships and trusting people. Many victims experience flashbacks and nightmares, which interfere with their daily lives.

What Can You Do To Help Victims of Child Sexual Assault?

No matter the tag of the abuser, e.g. apostle, it is important to remember that victims of sexual assault are not responsible for what happened to them. So, please, lend them a listening ear. They did not deserve to be assaulted, and they did not cause the assault. 

After speaking with the victim, consider contacting a California child sexual abuse lawyer. Beck Law P.C. can help you file a civil suit against the attacker. Lawsuits can provide victims with financial compensation and can also hold the attacker accountable for their actions. 

Let’s hope that this case will help other victims feel empowered to come forward and seek justice.