Attorney for Pastor’s Son Wants to Quash Client’s New Warrant
Criminal defense attorney Gilbert Schaffnit has began representing Christian Vargas in his new sex offense case and has filed a motion asking the judge to quash the new warrant against his client.
Vargas currently faces three separate criminal cases for lewd or lascivious behavior. Police reports describe him sexually abusing girls between the ages of 12 and 15 while he was between the ages of 16 and 18.
Vargas was arrested and charged as an adult for two of the cases in 2023 while he was charged in the third case in 2025 within juvenile court. Earlier this year, Vargas’ third case was transferred to felony court, prompting him to be arrested again and post bond a second time.
Vargas’ father, Mark Vega, currently faces a count of failing to report suspected child abuse while serving as the head pastor of Ignite Life Center.
Vega is on pretrial release and has no restrictions on travel.
At his scheduled arraignment on May 4, Vargas failed to appear despite being required to do so, prompting Judge Robert Groeb to issue a warrant and set a new bond. At the time, Schaffnit had been representing Vargas on his initial two cases but hadn’t officially began representing him for the third case.
On May 8, Schaffnit motioned to quash the arrest warrant.
According to the motion, Vargas is reliant on his parents to provide him with a defense attorney.
The motion states Vargas was not aware of his scheduled arraignment, believing Schaffnit filed paperwork that would waive his appearance.
The motion states Vargas has been working with his father to retain Schaffnit for his third case but the process has been complicated due to the travel schedules of Schaffnit and Vega. As of May 7, Vega was in New York in correlation with his work as a pastor at Ignite Life Center, while Schaffnit was in Tallahassee regarding a federal matter.
According to the motion, Schaffnit “spoke with Rodney Long of Long Bail Bonds, who stated that he does not object to a reinstatement of the bond.”
The motion states Schaffnit “communicated with Assistant State Attorney Lua Lepianka, who indicated that the State defers the Court with respect to the within Motion.”
“It is respectfully requested that this honorable Court enter its Order quashing the Capias/Arrest Warrant issued on May 7 2026, reinstating Vargas’ bond, and resetting his Arraignment,” motioned Schaffnit.
The motion will be heard on Thursday, May 21.
