A megachurch has defended its chief after he was sentenced to greater than 16 years in a California jail for sexually abusing ladies in his congregation.

Naasón Joaquín García, the chief of La Luz del Mundo, pleaded responsible to 2 counts of forcible oral copulation involving minors and one depend of a lewd act on a baby who was 15. In trade, prosecutors dropped 16 counts that included allegations of raping kids and ladies, in addition to human trafficking to supply youngster pornography.

García, 53, obtained a sentence of 16 years and eight months in Los Angeles Superior Courtroom on Wednesday.

Prosecutors mentioned García, who is taken into account the "apostle" of Jesus by the church's tens of millions of followers, used his place to have intercourse with ladies and younger girls within the congregation.

His plea deal got here after 5 younger girls—as soon as devoted followers of the church based by García's grandfather in Mexico practically a century in the past—testified that he had made them his intercourse slaves. They described him as "evil," a "monster," "disgusting human waste" and the "Antichrist."

Naasón Joaquín García sits during sentencing
Naasón Joaquín García in Los Angeles County Superior Courtroom on June 8. He was sentenced to greater than 16 years after making a plea deal. Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Instances by way of AP, Pool

They spoke of how that they had been manipulated and advised they might be damned in the event that they refused. "I worshipped my abuser," mentioned a girl who described herself as his niece. "He used me again and again like a sacrificial lamb taken to slaughter."

When the ladies tried to reveal García, they discovered themselves remoted and shunned by the church neighborhood, together with members of their very own households.

The survivors had objected to the plea deal and mentioned that they had solely came upon about it on the final minute.

They urged Decide Ronald Coen to impose an extended sentence, however he responded that his "palms are tied" by the settlement. He known as García a sexual predator.

"I simply need to inform the Jane Does that the world has heard you," the choose mentioned, in response to the Los Angeles Instances. "And for these members of the family which have deserted you, disgrace! Disgrace on you!"

Nevertheless the Guadalajara-based megachurch, also referred to as the Mild of the World, issued a assertion on Wednesday afternoon reiterating its help for García and saying he had solely pleaded responsible to the counts as a result of he didn't suppose he would obtain a good trial.

García—who took over as "apostle" after his father, Samuel Joaquín Flores, died in 2014—had been subjected to a prosecution the place proof was "suppressed, withheld, doctored and altered," the assertion mentioned.

"The Apostle of Jesus Christ has had no alternative however to simply accept with a lot ache that the settlement offered is the easiest way ahead to guard the church and his household," it continued, including that he had needed to spare the church and his household "weeks of unfounded public accusations" and threats.

The church added: "We publicly manifest our help for the Apostle of Jesus Christ; our confidence in him stays intact within the full data of his integrity, his conduct and his work."

García "will proceed ministering to the church," the assertion mentioned. "It is a path that God has positioned in entrance of him for a motive, as he did for Apostle Paul."

Newsweek has requested the workplace of California's lawyer normal for touch upon the church's claims.

The lawyer normal, Rob Bonta, described García's sentence as "a crucial step ahead for justice."

In a press release issued on Wednesday, Bonda mentioned: "Whereas it would by no means undo the hurt and trauma he induced because the chief of La Luz del Mundo, this sentence makes it crystal clear that abusers—irrespective of who they're—will probably be held accountable. Sexual assault is rarely acceptable. My coronary heart goes out to all these affected by the horrific actions delivered to gentle throughout this case. On the California Division of Justice, we'll proceed to face up for survivors and struggle again towards abuse."