WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — A local church pastor and hospice chaplain is being held on a bond exceeding $350,000 following a multi-pronged criminal investigation by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
Timothy Chaneyfield, 42, who served as pastor at St. James United American Free Will Baptist Church in Winter Haven, was taken into custody upon returning to the Orlando International Airport. Law enforcement officials say the arrest stems from an online cyber tip that uncovered a sequence of severe statutory and public health violations.
Cyber Tip Triggers Special Victims Investigation
According to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, investigators with the agency’s Special Victims Unit received a cyber tip originating from Instagram regarding inappropriate digital communications between an adult and a minor.
Subsequent interviews revealed that Chaneyfield and a 14-year-old boy initially connected via a mobile dating application before continuing their dialogue on Instagram. Investigators state that Chaneyfield picked up the juvenile victim from his neighborhood on three separate occasions, transporting him to the suspect’s Winter Haven residence where the abuse occurred.
Authorities closed in on the suspect after intercepting communications indicating Chaneyfield planned to board a flight to Baltimore for professional chaplaincy duties presiding over a funeral. Collaborating with the Orlando Police Department, deputies apprehended Chaneyfield at the airport on July 29, 2026. Detectives noted that during post-arrest questioning, the 42-year-old confessed to the unlawful sexual activity with the minor.
Undisclosed HIV Status and Broad Criminal Charges
The scope of the investigation expanded significantly when an adult male came forward to report that he engaged in sexual activity with Chaneyfield without knowing the pastor’s medical background.
Medical and investigative follow-ups confirmed that Chaneyfield is HIV-positive and undergoing management medication, yet failed to disclose his status to either the adult victim or the 14-year-old child. Following notification from law enforcement, the minor was immediately placed on precautionary medical treatment protocols.
Sheriff Judd condemned the suspect’s actions during public briefings, noting that additional substance-related infractions were uncovered during the execution of warrants.
Chaneyfield currently faces an extensive list of felony and misdemeanor charges, which include:
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- Three counts of lewd battery of a minor
- Three counts of interfering with the 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 engaging in sexual activity without partner notification
- Possession of marijuana and multiple counts of drug paraphernalia
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office has urged any additional potential victims or individuals with relevant information regarding Chaneyfield to contact local investigators.
For further details on the official law enforcement briefing, you can watch the Polk Sheriff update on pastor arrest.