Ignite Life Center Head Pastor's Son Arrested Again

At approximately 8:54 a.m. this morning, Christian Vargas, 22, was booked into the Alachua County Jail on a warrant for lewd or lascivious battery.

Vargas was originally arrested in July 2023 on one count of lewd or lascivious battery and one count of lewd or lascivious conduct after he reportedly raped a 12-to 13-year-old girl when he was 16 and sexually coerced a 14-year-old girl when he was 17–18. The incidents occurred at Ignite Life Center Church and were charged as two separate cases. He was released shortly after his arrest upon posting a $40,000 bond.

In 2025, Vargas was hit with an additional charge of lewd or lascivious battery in juvenile court, however, the case was transferred to the felony division last week. A warrant was subsequently issued, with Judge Robert Groeb ordering Vargas to be held in jail on a $250,000 bond.

Vargas' defendant information sheet shows his new case is for a third victim.

Vargas is the son of Mark Vega, who is currently out on a $50,000 bond regarding his own criminal case for failing to report suspected child abuse while serving as the head pastor of Ignite Life Center.

A search of the Alachua County Jail booking log indicates Vargas has already bonded out just hours after his arrest, as he is not among the list of inmates as of around 11 p.m. this morning. This is similar to Vega's arrest, as he also bonded out the same day he was booked into jail.

Vega has a case management hearing scheduled for May 11.

Vargas has case management hearings in his initial two cases scheduled for April 20. This page will be updated if information is released on Vargas' first court date for his new case.