Bail set for megachurch leader accused of sex crimes
A Mexican megachurch leader accused of sex crimes is now being held in California at $90 million, nearly double his original bail.
51-year-old Naason Joaquin Garcia, is the head and self-styled apostle of evangelical church La Luz del Mundo.
Last week U.S. prosecutors charged Garcia with charges of rape, human trafficking and child pornography.
They say the crimes took place in Los Angeles County between 2015 and 2018.
La Luz del Mundo, or Light of the World, has branches in 50 countries and boasts more than 5 million members.
It is the largest evangelical church in Mexico, dating back to the 1920s.
The decision to raise Garcia's bond virtually assures that he will remain in custody as he awaits trial.
It comes four months after an appeals court ordered the original charges against him to be dismissed.
That decision was made on the grounds that Garcia was denied his right to a speedy preliminary hearing in the high-profile case.
But last Thursday the California attorney general's office filed a new criminal complaint charging Garcia and two co-defendants with 36 felony offenses, 10 more than they previously faced, including additional rape counts.
As of this week, no pleas have been entered to the newly filed case.
Garcia and the others have maintained their innocence, as has the church in a statement released after the latest charges.
Prosecutors at Garcia's bond hearing said the exceptionally high bail reflected concerns that he would flee to Mexico using church funds.
An official told the judge that Garcia was believed to have $500,000 in cash, as well as thousands of euros and bars of gold stashed at his residence.
