Judge continues $50M bail for Mexican megachurch leader [View all]

[TexasTowelie]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A judge continued the extraordinary $50 million bail Friday for the leader of Mexico-based megachurch La Luz del Mundo but said prosecutors must offer more evidence of their child sex and human trafficking allegations at the next court hearing.

Naasón Joaquín García, the church's self-proclaimed apostle, poses a threat to "hundreds of girls" if he gets released, Deputy Attorney General Amanda Plisner said in Los Angeles Superior Court, arguing that he be held without bail as the investigation — which could lead to additional charges and victims — continues.

Joaquín García, 50, 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.

Joaquín García and his two co-defendants, Susana Medina Oaxaca and Alondra Ocampo, all pleaded not guilty. Another defendant remains at large.

Read more: https://www.mrt.com/news/crime/article/Mexican-megachurch-leader-returns-to-court-in-sex-14027078.php
(Midland Reporter-Telegram)