Mexican Megachurch
The megachurch claims 5 million followers worldwide. And believers regard Garcia as the “apostle” of Jesus Christ.
Prosecutors in California allege that García exploited his spiritual influence to engage in sexual activities with young girls and women. He was coercing them with promises of salvation and threatening them with damnation.
The judge said García was using religion as “invisible handcuffs” to exploit his victims.
Efforts to obtain a comment from the church regarding the new federal charges were not successful at the time of reporting.
Currently, García is serving his prison sentence at the California Institution for Men in Chino. In the previous year, he pleaded guilty to two state charges of forcible oral copulation involving minors and one count of committing a lewd act on a 15-year-old.
Guilty Plea
The church defended García’s decision to plead guilty, asserting that he believed he would not receive a fair trial due to evidence withholding or tampering by prosecutors, and that this plea agreement would facilitate his earlier release.
