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A Florida pastor was arrested after authorities alleged he sexually abused a 14-year-old boy he met through a dating app
Investigators said the case began after a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children led detectives to the alleged victim
Authorities are asking anyone with information about additional alleged victims to contact the Polk County Sheriff’s Office
A Florida pastor is facing multiple felony charges after authorities alleged he sexually abused a 14-year-old boy he met through a dating app, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
Timothy Chaneyfield, 42, pastor of St. James United American Free Will Baptist Church in Winter Haven, was arrested after detectives investigated a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, authorities said.
During a Tuesday, Aug. 4, press conference, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said the investigation began after detectives received a report involving alleged inappropriate online communication between an adult and a child.
“We received a cyber tip from Instagram that there was illicit, inappropriate activity between an adult and a child,” Judd said.
Detectives said they traced the conversations to Chaneyfield and a 14-year-old boy, who allegedly told investigators the two first connected through a dating app before continuing to communicate on Instagram.
Authorities allege the online conversations eventually led to three in-person meetings.
The boy allegedly met Chaneyfield outside the entrance to his subdivision on three consecutive days before the pastor drove him to his Winter Haven home, where the alleged sexual encounters took place, according to officials.
Investigators further alleged that during a subsequent phone call, Chaneyfield told the boy he wanted to continue having sex with him before mentioning he would be traveling to Baltimore for work.
That trip ultimately led detectives to his arrest.
Detectives later learned Chaneyfield had traveled to Baltimore in his role as a chaplain for Compassionate Care Hospice, where he was scheduled to preside over a funeral, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities obtained an arrest warrant and, with assistance from the Orlando Police Department, arrested Chaneyfield when he returned to Orlando International Airport on July 29, according to the sheriff’s office.
The sheriff’s office alleged Chaneyfield later admitted during an interview with detectives that he had engaged in sexual activity with the minor. He was transferred to the Polk County Jail on Aug. 1, according to investigators.
As detectives continued their investigation, authorities said another alleged victim came forward.
An adult man reported having sexual contact with Chaneyfield before later learning he was HIV-positive. Detectives alleged Chaneyfield did not disclose his HIV-positive status to either the adult complainant or the 14-year-old before the alleged sexual encounters, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
During the press conference, Judd said investigators acted quickly after learning of the child’s potential exposure.
St. James United American Free Will Baptist Church in Winter Haven, Florida
Credit: Google Maps
“We pray[ed] that our work was fast enough, because we got the 14-year-old victim the HIV cocktail,” Judd said. “We stopped this child from being infected.”
Chaneyfield has been charged with three counts of lewd battery involving a minor, three counts of interfering with the custody of a minor, three counts of traveling to meet a minor, unlawful use of a two-way communication device, four counts related to allegedly engaging in sexual activity without informing partners of his HIV-positive status, possession of marijuana and five counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities said he is being held on more than $350,000 bond.
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Judd also noted that Chaneyfield previously worked for the Polk County School District as a paraprofessional, substitute teacher and later in information technology before becoming the lead pastor at St. James United American Free Will Baptist Church.
Investigators believe there may be additional victims and are asking anyone with information to contact the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
“We don’t want this evil man ever to be outside of prison again, because if he is, I can assure you that pedophiles don’t change their personality or their wants or their needs,” Judd said.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.
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