- Senior pastor Mark Vega’s son

- Vargas was arrested and charged with: Lewd Or Lascivious Battery Encourages/forces Person Under 16 and Lewd Or Lascivious Conduct By Person 18 Years Old Or Older.

- Although Vega and Vargas do not share the same last name, an anonymous tipper offered direct evidence of their relation in two photos from Vega’s Instagram account. Vega’s account went private a few days after his son’s arrest.

Christian David Vargas was charged on July 18, 2023, with lewd or lascivious battery, encourages/forces person under 16 and lewd or lascivious conduct by person 18 years old or older.

According to a GPD report, Vargas, now 19, is accused of engaging in a sexual relationship with the victim when they were 12 years old and he was 16.

The victim reported they had sex with Vargas at least three times at the church between 2020 and 2021. On at least one occasion, the victim told police, Vargas asked to have sex and refused to take no for an answer. She told police that, believing she had no choice, she gave in to his advances.

Vargas also is accused of making sexual advances when he was 17 toward a 14-year-old girl. The victim recalled one encounter when Vargas asked her to meet him in a "special room" at the church, the report says. She said Vargas told her "It was normal for teenagers to have sex" and that "It's okay to be nervous," the report says.

The alleged advances continued after Vargas turned 18, the report says. The victim told police that Vargas told her that if they do have sex, she couldn't tell anyone because he was now 18. The victim also told police that she and Vargas never had sex.

Charge 1: Lewd Or Lascivious Battery Encourages/forces Person Under 16

Date Arrested: July 18th, 2023, at 3:19 pm 

Current address: 21324 Nw 217th Dr, High Springs, Fl 32643 

Place of Arrest: 404 Nw 14th Ave, Gainesville, Fl. ( Location of Ignite Life Center)

Age: 19

DOB: 02/24/2004

Phone: 352-219-7606

Charge 2: Lewd Or Lascivious Conduct By Person 18yoa Or Older

Date Arrested: July 18th, 2023, at 3:20 pm 

Current address: 21324 Nw 217th Dr, High Springs, Fl 32643 

Place of Arrest: 404 Nw 14th Ave, Gainesville, Fl. ( Location of Ignite Life Center)

Age: 19

DOB: 02/24/2004

Phone: 352-219-7606