A Florida pastor has been arrested following a disturbing investigation into allegations of inappropriate communication and segxwal abuse involving a child.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit arrested 42-year-old Timothy Chaneyfield, the pastor of St. James United American Free Will Baptist Church, after investigators received a cyber tip from Instagram about suspected inappropriate messages between an adult and a minor.
According to Sheriff Grady Judd, the investigation began after the report was submitted to authorities. During interviews with detectives, the alleged victim reportedly told investigators that he first met Chaneyfield through a dating app before the two continued communicating on Instagram.
Investigators allege that Chaneyfield picked up the child from his neighborhood on three separate occasions, took him to his residence, and segxwally abused him.
Authorities further claimed that during a phone conversation, Chaneyfield expressed a desire to continue the alleged segxwal relationship with the child. Investigators said he also mentioned plans to travel to Baltimore for work.
During the investigation, authorities discovered that Chaneyfield was also serving as a chaplain with Compassionate Care Hospice and was scheduled to officiate a funeral.
After obtaining an arrest warrant, detectives, with assistance from the Orlando Police Department, arrested Chaneyfield at Orlando International Airport on July 29, 2026, shortly after he returned from a trip.
Officials said Chaneyfield admitted during questioning that he had engaged in segxwal activity with the child.
Investigators also revealed that Chaneyfield is HIV positive and receiving treatment. They allege that he failed to disclose his HIV status before engaging in segxwal activity with the child and another individual.
Chaneyfield now faces multiple charges, including unlawful use of a two-way communication device, traveling to meet an individual, four counts of engaging in segxwal activity without disclosing his HIV-positive status, possession of marijuana, and five counts of possession of drug paraphernalia.
He remains in custody on a bond exceeding $350,000 as the case moves forward.
