Florida pastor accused of having sex with 14-year-old boy, not revealing HIV diagnosis

A Florida pastor has been charged with multiple offenses, including having sexual relations with a 14-year-old boy while failing to disclose his HIV-positive status, authorities announced on Tuesday. Timothy Chaneyfield, 42, was arrested after arriving at Orlando International Airport on July 29. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the arrest, stating that Chaneyfield is facing several charges related to his alleged misconduct. According to the sheriff's office, Chaneyfield and the 14-year-old boy met through a dating app, and their conversations eventually moved to Instagram, where they arranged three separate encounters involving sexual activity. Detectives traced Chaneyfield using tips from both Instagram and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. A second individual, a 26-year-old man, was identified as someone who had also engaged in sexual contact with Chaneyfield. This man later tested positive for HIV, though he was unaware of Chaneyfield’s condition until law enforcement informed him. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd described Chaneyfield during a press briefing as a “dope-smoking pedophile preacher” and emphasized the potential danger posed by the pastor. Judd noted that the 14-year-old had no knowledge that he was engaging in unprotected sex with someone who was HIV positive. Authorities are hopeful that the teenager can avoid illness through early treatment with an “HIV cocktail” of medication. Chaneyfield faces a range of charges, including three counts of lewd battery of a minor, three counts of interfering with the custody of a minor, unlawful use of a two-way communication device, three counts of traveling to meet a minor, four counts of having sex as an HIV-infected person without informing the partner, and possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. These charges reflect the severity of the allegations against him. Judd mentioned that Chaneyfield had previously worked as a chaplain for Compassionate Care Hospice in Lakeland and had served as a substitute teacher at Crystal Lake Middle School. Despite his previous roles, Judd expressed concern that there may be more victims beyond the two individuals already identified. “I would be shocked if there weren’t other children victims out there,” he stated, highlighting the extent of Chaneyfield’s activities. Efforts to reach representatives from St. James United American Free Will Baptist Church, where Chaneyfield was a pastor, resulted in a disconnected phone line. Attempts to contact Compassionate Care Hospice, Broward County Public Schools, and the United American Freewill Baptist Conference for comments were unsuccessful on Wednesday. It remains unclear whether Chaneyfield has secured legal representation to address the charges against him. Chaneyfield was arrested following a tip-off that led to his identification, despite efforts by law enforcement to apprehend him earlier in the week when he was in Baltimore conducting a funeral service. His arrest underscores the ongoing investigation into his activities and the potential impact on the community he once served. Authorities continue to urge anyone who may have had contact with Chaneyfield to come forward, emphasizing the importance of transparency regarding his HIV status. The case highlights the intersection of public trust, personal responsibility, and the legal consequences of undisclosed health conditions in intimate relationships.