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A4 U.S. NEWS
Thursday 9 June 2022
Happy together: Orphaned turtles and kids who set them free

By WAYNE PARRY stitute harvests eggs from
Associated Press females killed on the road
STONE HARBOR, N.J. (AP) and incubates them at 30
— The circle of life was on degrees Celsius, a temper-
vivid display Wednesday at ature that will ensure they
the Jersey Shore in a way develop as females (the
that even the youngest sex of these turtles is deter-
children could understand. mined by their temperature
Seventeen young turtles as eggs, Ferguson said).
that had been raised from Stockton also incubates
eggs retrieved from the eggs and cares for the
smashed bodies of moth- turtles in the first year of
ers killed on roads were re- their lives. When they have
leased back into the wild grown enough in their first
by a class of kindergartners. year, they are deemed
It was part of a program ready to be released into
that has saved thousands the wetlands surrounding
of turtles and returned them the institute.
to the wild over the past 25 That’s where the kids
years. The turtles were ei- come in. Kindergartners
ther raised from the eggs of from Stone Harbor schools
their dead mothers or were get to know the turtles as
themselves rescued from they grow. They give them
roads, storm drains or other A kindergarten student releases a turtle back into the wild at the Wetlands Institute in Stone Harbor, names, draw posters of
dangerous places over the N.J., Wednesday, June 8, 2022. Associated Press them, and even bake and
years. sell cookies to raise money
“It’s a great community day of turtle activity. This Moments after she spoke, Volpe said he has been fas- for turtle conservation.
connection,” said Lisa Fer- is egg-laying season, and Salvatore Volpe drove cinated with diamondback Wednesday morning, it
guson, director of research turtles come up out of the into the Institute’s parking terrapins since moving to was time to set them free.
and conservation at the wetlands onto dry land to lot with a bleeding turtle nearby Wildwood Crest in Some eagerly grasped the
Wetlands Institute, which lay eggs, thus exposing on the floor of his car. He 2009. turtles from behind; oth-
runs the program along themselves not only to nat- had been driving on the “It’s a real slaughter at ers were more reticent to
with Stockton University ural predators, but also to road that passes the facility this time of year,” he said. get up close and personal
and Stone Harbor schools. the far more deadly threat when he saw a car strike a “They just have no chance. with squirming turtles and
“It showcases how conser- of motor vehicles. turtle that was crossing the I do what I can.” squishy mud, but each stu-
vation works, and that ev- “We lose 550 adult females road, clipping the edge of Then he was off to shoo dent seemed excited to
eryone has a part to play, each year to road kills,” it and sending it flying. another turtle off the road see the turtles paddle away
from adults down to kinder- Ferguson said of her area The turtle was injured, but before it could be struck by into the shallow water.
garten students.” in the southern New Jer- not mortally, and Volpe a car. The program releases 150
The turtle release took sey marshlands near the took it to the Wetlands Insti- Aside from caring for injured to 200 turtles into the wild
place during a frenzied ocean. tute for treatment. live turtles, the Wetlands In- each year.q

Mexican megachurch leader faces

more than 16 years in prison

church leader pleaded cording to the charges. their abuse.”
guilty Friday in Los Ange- Ocampo told girls that if García had been sched-
les Superior Court to two they rebuffed the wishes uled to go on trial Monday
counts of forcible oral and desires of “the apos- on 19 counts that also in-
copulation involving minors tle,” they were going cluded allegations of hu-
and one count of a lewd against God, according to man trafficking to produce
act upon a child who was the charges. child pornography. A judge
15. García told the girls after had thrown out four counts
Prosecutors said he used his they danced for him that a of extortion and sentencing
spiritual influence to have king could have mistresses enhancements for great
sex with several female fol- and that “an apostle of bodily injury for lack of evi-
Naasón Joaquín García leads a service at his church “La Luz del
Mundo” in Guadalajara, Mexico on Aug. 9, 2018. lowers and was aided by God can never be judged dence.
Associated Press others in the church who for his actions,” according Another female co-defen-
facilitated the abuse. to the charges against him. dant who was a member
Church youth group lead- Ocampo was prepared to of the church, Susana Me-
By BRIAN MELLEY Naasón Joaquín García, er Alondra Ocampo, who testify against him, her at- dina Oaxaca, 27, pleaded
Associated Press 53, who is considered the previously pleaded guilty torney Fred Thiagarajah guilty Friday to assault likely
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The “apostle” of Jesus Christ to abusing the girls, was said. to cause great bodily injury,
leader of a Mexican mega- by his 5 million worldwide charged with directing “She actively recruited a misdemeanor.
church faces more than 16 followers, had vigorously teenage girls in skimpy out- and groomed girls for him,” Defense lawyers had said
years in a California prison fought charges that includ- fits to perform “flirty” danc- Thiagarajah said. “She prosecutors were operat-
when sentenced Wednes- ed child rape, until abruptly es for García. She also con- would target girls and bring ing under a far-fetched le-
day for sexually abusing accepting a plea deal on ducted nude photo shoots them into his inner fold. She gal theory that García used
three girls who were follow- the eve of trial. for García in which the girls was tasked with sexualizing spiritual coercion for sexual
ers. The La Luz del Mundo touched each other, ac- these girls and facilitating pleasure. q