Lawyer for Pastor’s Son in June: “It Is Likely that the Case will Conclude in the Next 60 Days,” That Didn’t Happen
The attorney for a pastor’s son facing two sex crime charges previously said the cases would be closed by now; however, court records show they have been extended until the new year.
Christian Vargas faces one count of lewd or lascivious battery and one count of lewd or lascivious conduct. According to police reports, while at Ignite Life Center (ILC) Church, Vargas 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.
Vargas has been out on bond for over two years since his arrest in July 2023, and he has continued to attend ILC.
On June 25, 2025, Vargas’ lawyer, Gilbert A. Schaffnit, made a motion to keep Judge William Davis presiding over Vargas’ cases.
Davis was Vargas’ judge until he took over the position of chief judge, placing Judge Robert Groeb on Vargas' cases.
As grounds, the motion said, “It is extremely unlikely that the cases will proceed to trial, but rather that the cases herein will result in a negotiated plea. Moreover, it is likely that the case will conclude in the next sixty (60) days.” That didn’t happen.
Vargas has a case management hearing scheduled for January 5, 2026.
Vargas’ father, Mark Vega, is the head pastor of ILC.
Vega was recently arrested for failing to report multiple sexual abuse incidents at ILC.
Vega has not stepped down from his position, preaching in a live-streamed sermon Sunday morning.
Vega has a longstanding friendship with New York (NY) Refuge of Hope Church pastor and former professional baseball player Mariano Rivera.
Rivera is currently being sued in NY for covering up child sexual abuse, with the lawsuit stating he and his wife travelled to ILC and intimidated the victim to not report the sexual abuse committed against her by an older girl.
Vargas was previously a member of the Mariano Rivera Foundation (MRF), which started a youth mentorship program with ILC in 2021.
Vargas faces an additional count of sexual battery in Orange County civil court following a lawsuit that was filed in February, with ILC and the Florida Multicultural District of the Assemblies of God facing multiple civil counts of vicarious liability and negligence.
Other individuals arrested for sex crimes at ILC include now-convicted child molester Gabriel Hemenez, who currently has a new case, as well as Noel Cruz, who received a withheld adjudication for aggravated assault with intent to commit a felony and is on probation.
As of Vargas’ most recent criminal case management hearing, Groeb is still presiding over his cases, and it doesn’t appear there has been an order on whether or not to keep Davis on the docket.
The reason why Vargas' criminal cases have been extended is currently unclear. GnvInfo didn’t make it to Vargas' two most recent case management hearings, and videos haven’t yet been obtained, which can be requested from Alachua County Court Records for a minimum $35 payment per hearing.
