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A Polk County pastor is facing multiple charges after investigators say he used his position of trust to groom a 14-year-old boy online, sexually abused him, and failed to disclose that he is HIV positive before having unprotected sex with the child. FL - St James Freewill Baptist Church Pastor Timothy Chaneyfield Arrested for Allegations of Child Sex Abuse, HIV Exposure
Timothy Chaneyfield, 42, was arrested after the Polk County Sheriff's Office received a cyber tip from Instagram flagging inappropriate activity between an adult and a child. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd announced the arrest on Tuesday, identifying Chaneyfield as a pastor at St. James United American Free Will Baptist Church, a hospice chaplain, and a former Polk County Schools employee.
According to investigators, Chaneyfield first made contact with the teen through a dating app before shifting the conversation to Instagram.
Detectives say Chaneyfield picked the boy up from his neighborhood on three separate occasions and drove him to his home in Eagle Lake, where he sexually abused him.
"He groomed a child online, drove to the child's neighborhood, picked him up, took him to his home, had sex with him," Judd said, describing Chaneyfield as a "dope-smoking pedophile preacher."
Judd said Chaneyfield is HIV positive and did not tell the teenager before allegedly engaging in unprotected sex with him.
"He's dangerous," Judd said. "We believe he's a super spreader."
Investigators also spoke with a 26-year-old man who told them he had sexual contact with Chaneyfield and later learned that Chaneyfield was HIV positive.
Chaneyfield worked for Polk County Public Schools from 2012 to 2024, including a stint at Crystal Lake Middle School. Investigators say they believe there could be additional victims.
"I would be shocked if there weren't other children victims out there," Judd said.
Judd is asking anyone who had a sexual relationship with Chaneyfield to seek medical care immediately and to contact investigators.
"Go to the hospital, call us, we'll meet you there," Judd said. "We'll get you the care that you need."
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
The factual information above was sourced from abcnews4.com as of August 11, 2026.
The attorney commentary below is not specifically about the case reported above. Attorney commentary provided is information about these types of cases in the justice system.
Cases involving clergy and sexual abuse raise painful questions for families about where to turn next. We sat down with Michael Haggard, a Florida attorney who has spent years representing survivors of abuse by religious leaders, to talk through the legal options that exist once abuse comes to light, from criminal reporting to civil claims against the individual and the institution that employed him.
Editor Darla Medina: When a minor is sexually abused by a pastor, what legal options does the family typically have?
Attorney Michael Haggard: There are usually two tracks. One is criminal, which is handled by law enforcement and prosecutors. The other is civil, where the family can pursue a lawsuit against the abuser and, in many cases, the church or organization that employed him. Civil claims can address issues the criminal system doesn't, such as compensation for therapy, medical care, and long-term harm.
Medina: Can the church itself be held responsible, even if church leadership didn't know what was happening?
Haggard: It depends on the facts, but yes, that's often possible. Courts look at whether the organization knew or should have known about warning signs, whether it did a proper background check, and whether it had policies in place to protect children. If a church failed to supervise someone in a position of trust, that can support a claim of negligence against the institution itself, separate from the individual who committed the abuse.
Medina: Florida has changed its laws around abuse cases in recent years. How does that affect a family's options?
Haggard: Florida has extended the window for survivors to file civil claims for child sexual abuse, so someone isn't necessarily locked out just because time has passed since the abuse occurred. The specific deadlines depend on when the abuse happened and the survivor's age, so anyone in this situation should talk to an attorney early to understand what applies to their circumstances.
Medina: What would you tell a family that suspects their child was abused by someone in a position like this?
Haggard: Get the child medical and psychological care first. Report it to law enforcement. And talk to an attorney who handles these cases specifically, because the civil process is different from the criminal one, and families often don't realize they have options beyond what prosecutors decide to pursue.
If you or someone you love has experienced abuse by a pastor, priest, or other religious leader, you don't have to figure out the next step alone. Contact The Legal Herald today to be connected with an experienced attorney for a free, no-obligation consultation. They can help you understand your options and connect you with legal support suited to your situation, at no cost and with no pressure to move forward until you're ready.
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