According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit, the investigation began after authorities received a cyber tip from Instagram regarding inappropriate communication between an adult and a child.
Investigators said the victim disclosed that he met Chaneyfield on a dating app before the two continued communicating through Instagram. The pastor allegedly picked up the teenager from his neighbourhood on three occasions, took him to his home, and sexually abused him.
Authorities also alleged that during a recorded phone conversation, Chaneyfield expressed a desire to continue having sexual contact with the boy and mentioned he was travelling to Baltimore for work.
Detectives later obtained an arrest warrant and, with the assistance of the Orlando Police Department, arrested Chaneyfield upon his return to Orlando International Airport on July 29, 2026.
Investigators said Chaneyfield admitted to engaging in sexual activity with the minor during questioning.
In a separate investigation, another man told authorities he had a sexual relationship with Chaneyfield and only later discovered that the pastor was HIV positive.
Police said their investigation confirmed that Chaneyfield is HIV positive and receiving treatment, alleging that he did not disclose his HIV status to either the minor or the adult before the sexual encounters.
The case remains under investigation.
:::writing
A 42-year-old pastor in Florida, Timothy Chaneyfield, has been arrested and charged with allegedly sexually abusing a 14-year-old boy and failing to disclose his HIV-positive status to the minor and another adult.
According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit, the investigation began after authorities received a cyber tip from Instagram regarding inappropriate communication between an adult and a child.
Investigators said the victim disclosed that he met Chaneyfield on a dating app before the two continued communicating through Instagram. The pastor allegedly picked up the teenager from his neighbourhood on three occasions, took him to his home, and sexually abused him.
Authorities also alleged that during a recorded phone conversation, Chaneyfield expressed a desire to continue having sexual contact with the boy and mentioned he was travelling to Baltimore for work.
Detectives later obtained an arrest warrant and, with the assistance of the Orlando Police Department, arrested Chaneyfield upon his return to Orlando International Airport on July 29, 2026.
Investigators said Chaneyfield admitted to engaging in sexual activity with the minor during questioning.
In a separate investigation, another man told authorities he had a sexual relationship with Chaneyfield and only later discovered that the pastor was HIV positive.
Police said their investigation confirmed that Chaneyfield is HIV positive and receiving treatment, alleging that he did not disclose his HIV status to either the minor or the adult before the sexual encounters.
The case remains under investigation.
:::writing
