Florida Pastor Accused of Sexually Abusing Teen, Exposing Him to HIV: Polk County Pastor Timothy Chaneyfield Faces Charges Including Lewd Battery on a Child and Failing to Disclose HIV Status.

A Polk County pastor, Timothy Chaneyfield, 42, has been accused of using his position of trust to groom and sexually abuse a 14-year-old boy, subsequently exposing him to HIV. The allegations surfaced following a cyber tip received by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, which led to Chaneyfield’s arrest. Chaneyfield, a former Polk County Schools employee and pastor at St. James United American Free Will Baptist Church, reportedly used a dating app to contact the teen before moving their interactions to Instagram.

Sheriff Grady Judd stated that Chaneyfield picked up the boy from his neighborhood on three occasions, took him to his Eagle Lake residence, and sexually abused him. The investigation revealed that Chaneyfield, who is HIV positive, did not disclose his condition to the teen before engaging in unprotected sexual activities. Additionally, a 26-year-old man reported having sexual contact with Chaneyfield and later discovered he was HIV positive.

Chaneyfield, who served at Polk County Public Schools, including Crystal Lake Middle School, from 2012 to 2024, faces charges of lewd battery on a child, traveling to meet a minor, computer-related offenses, and failing to disclose his HIV status. Sheriff Judd expressed concern that there may be additional victims and urged anyone who had a sexual relationship with Chaneyfield to seek medical attention and contact investigators. This case underscores the importance of accountability and justice, resonating with the biblical call to seek truth and protect the vulnerable, as highlighted in Micah 6:8.

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