9 Investigates

9 Investigates: Christian school in Orange County lied to get money, documents say

9 Investigates obtained state documents that show officials at a Christian private school in Orange County may have lied to get money.

The Florida Department of Education demanded the Agape Christian Academy, which is affiliated with Agape Assembly Baptist Church, return $577,000 of taxpayer money.

The state said the school was given the money to help special-needs students with tuition.

According to the documents, pastor Richard Bishop’s wife, Ingrid Bishop, engaged in fraudulent activity and broke the law when submitting an application for state funds.

The state discovered fire code letters stating the school had a working alarm during inspections on Aug. 19, 2014, and Aug. 12, 2015. The state said those letters were not generated by the Orange County Fire Department.

In March, 9 Investigates found out the county is fining the school and church $500 a day for no working alarm.

The county said the next step will be to ask a special magistrate to close the school, but that hasn’t happened yet.

The county has not asked the State Attorney’s Office to investigate.