The leader of the Mexican megachurch, La Luz del Mundo, has been sentenced to more than 16 years in a California prison for sexually abusing young female followers who said he made them his sex slaves.
Naasón JoaquÃn GarcÃa, 53, was sentenced on Wednesday after he abruptly pleaded guilty last week in Los Angeles Superior Court to three felonies on the eve of a long-awaited trial.
Prosecutors said GarcÃa, who is considered the "apostle" of Jesus Christ by his 5 million worldwide followers, used his spiritual sway to have sex with girls and young women who were told it would lead to their salvation — or damnation if they refused.
"I never cease to be amazed at what people do in the name of religion and how many lives are ruined in the guise of a supreme being," said Judge Ronald Coen, who called GarcÃa a sexual predator.
The sentence came after nearly three hours of emotional statements by five young women GarcÃa was charged with sexually abusing. They had once been his most devoted servants. But in court they called him "evil" and a "monster," "disgusting human waste" and the "antichrist."
The church, which is also known as the Light of the World, said in a statement that GarcÃa pleaded guilty because he didn't think he could get a fair trial after prosecutors withheld or doctored evidence. The agreement would allow him to be freed sooner. “The Apostle of Jesus Christ has had no choice but to accept with much pain that the agreement presented is the best way forward to protect the church and his family," the church said while repeating their support for him.