Imprisoned Mexico-based megachurch leader indicted in L.A. on child porn charges

LOS ANGELES — The imprisoned leader of a Mexico-based evangelical megachurch was indicted by a federal grand jury Wednesday on child pornography charges involving a 16-year-old victim.

Naasón Joaquín García — the leader of La Luz del Mundo (Light of the World) — was indicted on one count each of production of child pornography and possession of child pornography, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. It was unclear when García, 54, would appear in court for arraignment on the charges.

García pleaded guilty last year in state court to two counts of forcible oral copulation involving minors and one count of a lewd act upon a child who was 15 years old. Each of the counts involved a separate female minor, according to the California Attorney General’s Office, which handled the prosecution. He was sentenced to 16 years and eight months in prison and ordered to register as a sex offender for life.

Federal prosecutors said he is currently imprisoned at the California Institution for Men in Chino.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, García in May 2019 allegedly coerced a 16-year-old victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct “for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct.” In June 2019, he allegedly possessed an iPad that had five videos of the victim engaged in sexual activity.

Prosecutors said García was in possession of the iPad when he was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport in June 2019.

According to prosecutors, García could face up to 30 years in federal prison for the charge of production of child pornography, and up to 10 years in federal prison for the charge of possession of child pornography.

The Guadalajara-based Pentecostal sect La Luz del Mundo has branches in 50 nations and claims more than a million members worldwide.