Press release from Gainesville Police Department

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – On Tuesday, February 7, 2023, the Gainesville Police Department’s Special Victims Unit (SVU) began investigating a sexual abuse report that occurred at Ignite Life Center, located at 404 NW 14th Avenue. A victim reported that while attending the Ignite Youth Internship in July of 2021, Gabriel Hemenez (H/M DOB: 10/09/1994) sexually abused him. Hemenez was a volunteer/church member of Ignite Life Center who interacted with minors on a regular basis from 2018 to 2023.

GPD Det. R. Johnson’s investigation revealed that Hemenez sexually abused several minors while they attended the Ignite Life Center’s Youth Internship, a month-long overnight camp, in July of 2021.

Read Related Also: 5-Year-Old Finds Loaded Gun, Fatally Shoots 4-Year-Old Sister

On Thursday, July 6, detectives with the Gainesville Police Department traveled to Lakeland, Florida, and interviewed Hemenez. During the interview, Hemenez confessed to inappropriately touching three minors and one adult while attending and volunteering at the Ignite Life Center. An arrest warrant was obtained, and Hemenez was arrested in Lakeland. Hemenez has been charged with two counts of Lewd or Lascivious Molestation and one count of attempted sexual battery of a minor. This is an ongoing investigation with additional charges pending.

Det. Johnson is requesting any member of the community with additional information or who may be a victim to please contact her at 352-393-7656 or Johnsonrl@cityofgainesville.org.

The Ignite Life Center was made aware of this investigation and the arrest of Hemenez.