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Mexico Megachurch Leader Remains Jailed


FILE - In this July 15, 2019, photo, Naason Joaquin Garcia, the leader of a Mexico-based evangelical church with a worldwide membership, attends a bail review hearing in Los Angeles Superior Court in Los Angeles.
FILE - In this July 15, 2019, photo, Naason Joaquin Garcia, the leader of a Mexico-based evangelical church with a worldwide membership, attends a bail review hearing in Los Angeles Superior Court in Los Angeles.

Bail for the leader of a Mexican megachurch nearly doubled to $90 million after prosecutors expanded charges against him, including child rape, and possession of child pornography.

The new bail ruling by a Los Angeles judge ensures Naason Joaquin Garcia, of the Guadalajara-based La Luz del Mundo church (Light of the World church) will remain in custody until his trial.

Garcia, who says he has a million followers worldwide, was initially jailed on sex crimes charges last year with a $50 million bail.

The attorney general's office of California filed dozens of new felony charges, including rape, against Garcia and two co-defendants last week

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