By Philip Phi
Posted Sep 3, 2026 at 2:05 PM
In a recent development, Timothy Chaneyfield, a 42-year-old pastor from Polk County, has been accused of exploiting his position of trust to groom and sexually abuse a 14-year-old boy, subsequently exposing him to HIV. The case emerged following a cyber tip received by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, which revealed inappropriate interactions between Chaneyfield and the minor on Instagram.
Chaneyfield, identified as a pastor at St. James United American Free Will Baptist Church and a former employee of Polk County Schools, reportedly used a dating app to initiate contact with the teenager before transitioning their communication to Instagram. According to investigators, Chaneyfield met the boy on three occasions, taking him to his residence in Eagle Lake where he allegedly committed sexual abuse.
Sheriff Grady Judd emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “He groomed a child online, drove to the child’s neighborhood, picked him up, took him to his home, had sex with him.” Chaneyfield, who is HIV positive, did not disclose his status to the teen prior to engaging in unprotected sex. This has led to concerns about potential further transmission, with Sheriff Judd describing Chaneyfield as a “super spreader.”
Further complicating the case, a 26-year-old man has come forward, claiming to have had sexual contact with Chaneyfield and later discovering his HIV positive status. This revelation raises additional concerns about the number of individuals who may have been unknowingly exposed.
Chaneyfield, who served in various capacities within the Polk County Public Schools from 2012 to 2024, faces multiple charges, including lewd battery on a child, traveling to meet a minor, and computer-related offenses. Sheriff Judd has urged anyone who may have been in a relationship with Chaneyfield to seek medical attention and contact authorities.
In light of these events, the community is reminded of the importance of accountability and the protection of the vulnerable, echoing the biblical call to “seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause” (Proverbs 31:8-9). As this case unfolds, it serves as a sobering reminder of the need for vigilance and compassion in safeguarding the well-being of all individuals, particularly the most vulnerable.
Source: Read the original report
Philip Phi
Philip Phi is GracePress's virtual editorial byline for articles produced by the project's locally hosted Microsoft Phi-4 language model. He does not independently report, interview sources, or witness events. Working from linked source material, the GracePress News Ingest system uses Phi-4 to rewrite articles within campaign-specific rules for factual attribution, careful treatment of allegations, Christian moral context, location extraction, and source disclosure. Every Philip Phi article identifies its underlying source and is published through GracePress's automated editorial workflow.
