A Florida pastor has been arrested after authorities alleged that he not only sexually battered a 14-year-old boy he met through a dating app but also failed to disclose that he was HIV-positive, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
Timothy Chaneyfield, 42, pastor of St. James United American Free Will Baptist Church in Winter Haven, was arrested July 29 following an investigation that began after authorities received a cyber tip through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).
“We received a cyber tip from Instagram that there was illicit, inappropriate activity between an adult and a child,” Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said during a news conference.
Investigators said the 14-year-old boy told detectives he met Chaneyfield through a dating mobile app before continuing their conversations on Instagram.
Authorities said Chaneyfield allegedly picked up the teenager at the entrance to his subdivision on three consecutive days and drove him to his home in Winter Haven, where investigators allege sexual activity occurred.
Detectives later learned Chaneyfield was traveling to Baltimore in his role as a chaplain for Compassionate Care Hospice to preside over a funeral.
Authorities obtained an arrest warrant and, with assistance from the Orlando Police Department, arrested Chaneyfield after he returned to Orlando International Airport on July 29.
During an interview with detectives, Chaneyfield admitted to the alleged sexual activity with the minor, according to investigators.
“He confessed,” Judd said. “He confessed that he picked up this 14-year-old child on at least three different occasions, took him to Timothy’s home in Eagle Lake, where he engaged this child in sex.”
Authorities said a separate adult male later reported having sexual contact with Chaneyfield and learning afterward that Chaneyfield was HIV-positive.
Detectives alleged Chaneyfield did not disclose his HIV status to either the adult complainant or the teenage victim before the encounters.
Judd said investigators moved quickly after learning the teenage victim may have been exposed to HIV.
“We pray that our work was fast enough because we got our victim, the 14-year-old, the HIV cocktail that we stopped this child from being infected,” Judd said.
Chaneyfield faces charges including three counts of lewd battery of a minor, three counts of interfering with custody of a minor, three counts of traveling to meet a minor, unlawful use of a two-way communication device, four counts of an HIV-infected person having sex without informing a partner, possession of marijuana, and five counts of possession of drug paraphernalia.
Authorities said Chaneyfield is being held on more than a $350,000 bond.
To make matters worse, the sheriff’s office said Chaneyfield worked for Polk County Public Schools from 2012 to 2024 as a substitute teacher, paraprofessional, and IT worker, including time at Crystal Lake Middle School.
Investigators said they believe there may be additional victims.
“I would be shocked if there weren’t other children victims out there. I would be shocked if there weren’t other victims out there,” Judd said.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with information regarding possible additional victims or alleged contact with Chaneyfield is encouraged to contact the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
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