WINTER HAVEN, FL — The Polk County Sheriff’s Office announced Tuesday the arrest of 42-year-old Timothy Chaneyfield, pastor of St. James United American Free Will Baptist Church in Winter Haven, with Sheriff Grady Judd referring to him during a morning press conference as a “dope smoking preacher.” Chaneyfield is accused of having sexual contact with a 14-year-old boy, failing to disclose that he was HIV positive to multiple sexual partners, and is facing multiple felony and misdemeanor charges following an investigation by the Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit.
According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the investigation began on July 28, 2026, after detectives received a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding inappropriate online contact involving Timothy Chaneyfield, pastor of St. James United American Free Will Baptist Church in Winter Haven.
During the investigation, the 14-year-old victim told detectives he met Chaneyfield through a dating app before the two continued communicating on Instagram, where the NCMEC cyber tip originated. Investigators said Chaneyfield picked up the teen on three consecutive days at the entrance of the victim’s subdivision and drove him to his Winter Haven home, where the two had sex each day. During a later phone call, Chaneyfield allegedly told the victim he wanted to continue having sex with him before informing the child he was flying to Baltimore for work.
Detectives learned Chaneyfield also served as a chaplain for Compassionate Care Hospice and was traveling to Baltimore to officiate a funeral. Investigators obtained an arrest warrant and, with assistance from the Orlando Police Department, arrested Chaneyfield upon his return to Orlando International Airport on July 29. He was initially booked into the Orange County Jail before being transferred to the Polk County Jail on Aug. 1.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, Chaneyfield admitted during an interview that he had engaged in sexual activity with the minor.
During a separate investigation, an adult man told detectives he had sexual contact with Chaneyfield before later learning Chaneyfield was HIV positive. Investigators confirmed Chaneyfield is HIV positive and taking medication for the disease, but allegedly failed to disclose his HIV status to both the adult victim and the child before having sexual contact.
Chaneyfield is charged with 3 counts of lewd battery on a minor, 3 counts of interfering with the custody of a minor, 1 count of unlawful use of a two-way communication device, 3 counts of traveling to meet a minor, 4 counts of an HIV-infected person having sex without informing a partner, 1 count of possession of marijuana, and 5 counts of possession of drug paraphernalia.
He is being held in the Polk County Jail on more than $350,000 bond. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information regarding additional victims, including minors or adults who may have had sexual contact with Chaneyfield without being informed of his HIV status, to contact detectives at 863-298-6200.
SOURCE: POLK COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
