Florida Pastor Arrested Over Alleged Sexual Abuse of Minor, Failure to Disclose HIV Status

By Ichie Times

A 42 year old pastor in Florida, United States, has been arrested after authorities accused him of sexually abusing a 14 year old boy and allegedly failing to disclose that he is HIV positive.

The suspect, identified as Timothy Chaneyfield, a pastor at St. James United American Free Will Baptist Church, was arrested by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office following an investigation by its Special Victims Unit.

According to investigators, the case began after Instagram submitted a cyber tip about suspected inappropriate communication between an adult and a minor. Authorities alleged that Chaneyfield met the teenager through a dating application before continuing their conversations on Instagram. Detectives said the pastor allegedly picked up the boy on three occasions and took him to his residence, where the abuse reportedly occurred.

Investigators further alleged that Chaneyfield admitted to engaging in sexual activity with the minor after he was arrested at Orlando International Airport on July 29, 2026. Detectives also disclosed that he served as a chaplain with Compassionate Care Hospice and had travelled to Baltimore for work before his arrest.

In a separate complaint, another man reportedly informed investigators that he had a sexual relationship with Chaneyfield and only later discovered that the pastor was HIV positive. Authorities said investigations confirmed that Chaneyfield is living with HIV and alleged that he did not disclose his status to either the minor or the adult complainant before the encounters.

The suspect is facing multiple criminal charges, while the investigation remains ongoing.