A Florida pastor has been arrested and charged following allegations that he sexually abused a 14-year-old boy and failed to disclose his HIV-positive status before engaging in sexual activity.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office said Timothy Chaneyfield, 42, pastor of St. James United American Free Will Baptist Church, was taken into custody after an investigation by its Special Victims Unit.
According to investigators, the case began after authorities received a cyber tip from Instagram regarding alleged inappropriate communication between an adult and a minor.
Police allege that Chaneyfield met the 14-year-old through a dating app before the pair continued communicating on Instagram. Investigators claim Chaneyfield picked up the boy from his neighbourhood on three occasions and took him to his home, where the alleged abuse occurred.
Authorities also allege that during a recorded phone call with the victim, Chaneyfield expressed a desire to continue the sexual relationship.
Detectives obtained an arrest warrant and, with assistance from the Orlando Police Department, arrested Chaneyfield at Orlando International Airport on July 29, 2026, after he returned from a work trip.
Investigators said Chaneyfield admitted to having sexual contact with the minor during questioning.
In a separate investigation, another individual told authorities he had engaged in sexual activity with Chaneyfield and later discovered that Chaneyfield was HIV positive. Detectives said Chaneyfield was aware of his HIV status and was receiving treatment but allegedly did not disclose it to either the man or the 14-year-old before the alleged encounters.
Authorities said the teenager received immediate medical treatment aimed at reducing the risk of HIV infection.
Chaneyfield faces multiple charges, including three counts of lewd battery involving a minor, three counts of interference with child custody, three counts of travelling to meet a minor for unlawful purposes, unlawful use of a two-way communication device, four counts related to an HIV-positive person allegedly engaging in sexual activity without informing a partner, as well as drug-related offences.
He is being held on bond exceeding $350,000. The allegations remain before the court, and Chaneyfield is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.