Former GPD Chaplain Previously Rejected Plea Deal in Felony Case

The Eighth Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office (SAO8) previously offered Mark Anthony Vega, 56, a favorable plea deal for failing to report child suspected child abuse, a felony punishable by up to five years in prison.

Court records show Vega concealed several child sexual abuse incidents over multiple years at his pentecostal Christian ministry Ignite Life Center. Vega previously served as a chaplain at the Gainesville Police Department. 

Vega was arrested in November 2025 and released on a $50,000 bond.

In February 2026, SAO8 offered Vega a plea deal that would have allowed him to avoid prison time. Had he taken the offer, Vega would have been sentenced to three years of probation with special conditions requiring him to not counsel minors one-on-one and no unsupervised contact with minors. The adjudication of guilt would have been withheld, meaning Vega would not have sustained a felony conviction if he took the offer.

Had he taken the deal, Vega would have been required to complete community service that does not place him under the authority of children. He would have been required to watch the Department of Children and Families approved “Florida Mandated Reporter Course.”

The plea offer was contingent on no depositions being taken.

At his case management hearing Monday, Vega’s attorney, Michael Hines, said that some depositions have been completed, meaning Vega rejected the offer. Hines said more depositions are forthcoming.

Hines said there are 50 Category A witnesses, indicating it may be some time before all the depositions are completed and the case becomes ready for trial. No trial date has been set. 

Vega’s son, Christian David Vargas, 22, was present in the courtroom hallway with Nicole Gomez, a pastor serving under Vega. 

Vargas faces two counts of lewd/lascivious battery against a victim under 15 years old and one count of lewd/lascivious molestation against a victim 12-16 years old while 18+. 

Although they had case management hearings on the same day, Vega and Vargas did not appear in court together. Vega did not show up to the courthouse at all since he waived his appearance. Vargas waived his appearance after he was previously arrested for failing to appear. Despite his presence in the courthouse, Vargas exercised his waiver and did not stand before the Court. 

Vargas’ attorney, Gilbert Schaffnit, said he will be meeting with Assistant State Attorney Christopher “Andy” Holz after Vargas' three charges are consolidated into one case. Schaffnit said Holz agreed to consolidation, but the charges are still filed as separate cases.

Judge Robert Groeb commented that Vargas has a “very old” case.

Vargas was initially arrested over three years ago on the lewd/lascivious battery charges. He was released on a $40,000 bond. Earlier this year, he was arrested again for the lewd/lascivious molestation charge, which occurred around the same time as the other two cases. Vargas was released on a $250,000 bond and he later failed to appear at his arraignment. Consequently, Vargas was arrested again for failing to appear. He was released roughly a week later on a $500,000 bond and remains on pretrial release.

Vargas and Vega both have their next case management hearing scheduled for January 11, 2027.