(CNN Spanish) –– Naasón Joaquín García, leader of the La Luz del Mundo church, was sentenced this Wednesday to a sentence of 16 years and 8 months in prison for various charges of sexual abuse against three minors.
“Today’s sentencing for Naasón Joaquín García is a critical step toward justice,” California State Attorney Rob Bonta said in a statement. “While it will never repair the damage and trauma he caused as leader of La Luz del Mundo, this ruling makes it clear that abusers, no matter who they are, will be held accountable,” he added.
CNN is trying to obtain the full sentencing document against Garcia, which is not yet available on court files online.
After reaching an agreement with the Prosecutor’s Office last week, the defendant pleaded guilty to two counts of forced oral copulation with minors and one for lewd acts against a minor.
“You are a sexual predator”: the judge’s words to Naasón Joaquín García
During the reading of the sentence, the judge said that the women that García assaulted were heard. “And as for the defendant, I say: You are a sexual predator,” the judge said, looking at Garcia.
The La Luz del Mundo church reiterated its support for Garcia. “He will continue to minister to the church from where he is,” he said in a statement. And he concluded: “Our trust in him remains intact with the full knowledge of his integrity, his conduct and his work.”
The leader of La Luz del Mundo was arrested in June 2019 at Los Angeles International Airportalong with two of his assistants, Susana Medina Oaxaca and Alondra Ocampo, who are also still behind bars.
A few days ago, Medina was convicted of assault, and is expected to spend time in jail and time on probation. Ocampo pleaded guilty to three felony counts of contact with a minor for the purpose of committing a sexual offense and one count of forcible sexual penetration, according to the California State Attorney’s Office. The court will sentence you at a later date.