COMPTON : Bogus Faith Healer Convicted on More Charges
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A man who mixed satanic rituals with bogus faith healing was convicted Monday of robbing, raping and sexually assaulting members of four families.
Juan Cardenas, also known as Oswaldo Cardonas, was found guilty on three counts of digital penetration, one count of committing lewd acts with a child under the age of 14 and seven counts of committing unlawful sex acts by fraud and fear.
On Aug. 12, the Compton Superior Court jury convicted Cardenas on 63 counts of rape, sexual assault, child molestation, grand theft and committing unlawful sexual intercourse by fraud and fear.
The 52-year-old Cardenas told his victims that they and their families would need a “cleansing process” and certain rituals to alleviate pain or rid them of curses, Kain said. Over a period of several months, Cardenas treated entire families in rituals that involved the use of candles shaped like human heads, Bibles and books with pictures of the devil and satanic symbols, the prosecutor said.
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