Pastor’s Son Sued for Sexual Battery, Ignite Life Center and FMD Sued for Negligence, Dismissal Motions Filed
ORANGE COUNTY. On February 28, alleged rapist Christian Vargas was sued for sexual battery. Gainesville church Ignite Life Center (ILC) and Orlando-based Florida Multicultural District (FMD) of the Assemblies of God (AG) are named as co-defendants in the lawsuit, each facing one count of negligence and vicarious liability.
Vargas was arrested in July 2023 on two counts of lewd or lascivious behavior for allegedly raping a 12-to 13-year-old girl when he was 16 and sexually coercing a 14-year-old girl when he was 17–18. The incidents occurred at ILC.
Vargas is the son of ILC head pastor Mark Vega and has continued attending the church despite his pending criminal cases.
Court records show the Plaintiff is seeking between $50,000 and $75,000 in damages. The Plaintiff is seeking a jury trial.
Court records show Vargas, ILC and FMD have denied all the allegations.
The complaint hasn't been publicized for confidentiality reasons but dismissal motions and an evidence form are available.
FMD’s Dismissal Motion:
FMD's attorney, Keith Shevenell, filed a motion to dismiss both counts against them.
FMD’s dismissal motion states that the complaint makes “false legal assertions that Ignite Life Center was a ‘district-affiliated church,’ that [FMD] operated/oversaw the ‘Call Matters Conference,’ and that [FMD] selected, assigned, trained, and supervised employees of the ‘Call Matters Conference.’”
The motion states Vargas was not an employee of FMD.
Plaintiff’s Response to FMD’s Dismissal Motion:
The Plaintiff’s lawyer, Christopher Chenevey, submitted a motion in opposition to FMD’s dismissal motion.
The motion states Vargas was trained as a youth leader at ILC and that “this leadership position included access to, and supervision of sensitive aged children at events conducted by [FMD at ILC]... Vargas was known as ‘staff’ and was referred to in that way by parishioners of the church.”
The motion disputes FMD’s denial of district affiliation with ILC. “On [FMD’s] own website… Under the heading ‘Who are We’ you can do a simple search using Gainesville’s zip code, and immediately Ignite Life Center church pops up with contact information, and listing head Pastor, Mark Vega.”
The FMD website shows Ignite Life Center on their church map (FMD)
ILC’s Dismissal Motion:
ILC's attorney, Madeline Villani, made a motion to dismiss their count of vicarious liability.
The motion states, "Plaintiff alleges that Christian Vargas was an agent of [ILC], as a volunteer for the church, and that as a volunteer [his] duties included prayer and counseling with minors, including Plaintiff… The Complaint alleges that the abuse occurred during his ‘working hours’ and in the course and scope of his duties with Ignite… Plaintiff’s own allegations confirm that the alleged abuse was outside the scope of his alleged agency. There are no facts alleged which would support a finding that sexual touching, if it did occur, was in anyway, within the scope of Christian Vargas’ agency as volunteer.”
Plaintiff’s Response to ILC’s Dismissal Motion:
Chenevey submitted a motion in opposition to ILC’s dismissal motion.
The motion argues that ILC can be held liable for Vargas' sexual abuse because he was “specially trained as a leader, and was tasked with leadership positions over children of a sensitive age”
The motion states Vargas’ position at the church included “access to people, places, and things that not just any volunteer would have access to. This included the media room, including the ability to manipulate video cameras that could have otherwise prevented the alleged incidents, passwords to get into otherwise secure areas of the building, and supervision of sensitive aged children at events conducted by [ILC]. This includes praying and ‘Laying hands’ on these sensitive aged children.”
Evidence Disclosure:
Chenevey submitted an evidence disclosure form listing several documents, including the following:
- A report intended for the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
- A complaint letter directed to Urban Strategies, FMD and AG.
- Witness statements from former ILC members.
- An email sent to Gainesville Police Department Sgt. John Pandak from the Plaintiff's mother.
- An investigative report in Noel Cruz’s case.
- Articles related to ILC.
- Screenshots of texts sent by Vargas.
- Pictures of Vargas serving in leadership roles at ILC, including in children's areas.
The evidence disclosure form names several high-profile witnesses.
Jack Walden
