Third man accused of child sexual abuse at Florida church: report

Rachel Tucker
·2 min read
2

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WFLA) — A third man is accused of sex crimes against children at a north central Florida church.

Noel Cruz, 22, was arrested Monday and charged with lewd or lascivious battery, according to Alachua County court records.

He was accused of having “unlawful sexual intercourse” with a 15-year-old victim when he was 20. The abuse lasted until the victim turned 18, according to the criminal complaint obtained by the Gainesville Sun. Cruz is due in court for his arraignment on March 12.

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Cruz is the third member of Ignite Life Church arrested in less than a year, the Sun reports.

In July 2023, Gabriel Hemenez, 29, was arrested in Lakeland. According to Alachua County court records, he was charged with attempted sexual battery of a minor and two counts of lewd or lascivious molestation. Hemenez was a church volunteer from 2018-2023 who “interacted with minors on a regular basis,” a Gainesville Police Department news release stated.

A victim accused Hemenez of sexually abusing them during a monthlong overnight camp, according to the Gainesville Sun. Speaking to detectives in Lakeland, Hemenez “confessed to inappropriately touching three minors and one adult” while he was a member of the church, the Sun reports.

Hemenez is due back in court on March 6 for a plea change hearing.

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Christian David Vargas, 19, was charged with lewd or lascivious battery (encourages or forces person under 16) and lewd or lascivious conduct by person 18 years old or older in July 2023, court records show.

A victim reported Vargas sexually abusing her when they were 12 years old and he was 16, according to the Gainesville Sun. A second victim accused Vargas of pressuring her into sex acts at the church when she was 14 and he was 17 and alleged the abuse continued after he turned 18.

Anyone who believes they may be a victim is asked to contact the Gainesville Police Department.

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