WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — A Winter Haven pastor who spent more than a decade working for Polk County Public Schools is facing multiple felony charges after investigators say he admitted to repeatedly sexually abusing a 14-year-old boy he met online.
The Polk County Sheriff's Office arrested 42-year-old Timothy Chaneyfield, the pastor of St. James United American Free Will Baptist Church in Winter Haven, after an investigation that began with a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
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According to investigators, Chaneyfield first met the teen on a dating app before their conversations moved to Instagram.
Sheriff Grady Judd said Instagram reported the activity, which generated the tip that led detectives to the child and launched the investigation.
"Instagram should be applauded," Judd said.
According to the Sheriff's Office, the teen said Chaneyfield picked him up outside the entrance to his subdivision on three consecutive days and drove him to his home, where he sexually abused the child.
Investigators said Chaneyfield later told the teen he wanted to meet again after returning from Baltimore, where he had traveled to preside over a funeral.
Detectives obtained an arrest warrant and, with the help of the Orlando Police Department, arrested Chaneyfield when he returned to Orlando International Airport.
During an interview, investigators said Chaneyfield admitted to having sex with the child.
Because of Chaneyfield's position as a pastor and his years working around children in Polk County schools, Tampa Bay 28 has chosen to show his mugshot.
During a Tuesday news conference, Sheriff Grady Judd said investigators are concerned the case may involve additional victims.
"I would be shocked if there weren't other child victims out there," Judd said. "I would be shocked if there weren't other victims out there."
Judd said detectives are looking closely at Chaneyfield's background because he held several positions of trust in the community. Before he became pastor of the Winter Haven church, Judd says Chaneyfield was ordained at a church in Haines City. In addition to serving as a pastor, Judd says Chaneyfield was a chaplain for Compassionate Care Hospice. He also worked for Polk County Public Schools from 2012 until 2024.
The school district confirmed Chaneyfield spent two years as a substitute teacher beginning in 2012, worked as a paraeducator from 2014 to 2016, and then served as a network manager from 2016 until leaving the district in 2024.
"We are thankful that the Polk County Sheriff's Office arrested this individual to protect the community from any further harm," Polk County Public Schools said in a statement. "As always, we cooperate fully with law enforcement to protect students and staff."
Judd said Chaneyfield spent time at Crystal Lake Middle School, another reason detectives are asking anyone who may have had inappropriate contact with him to come forward.
Investigators also allege Chaneyfield failed to disclose he was HIV positive before having sex with the 14-year-old.
In a separate investigation, detectives said an adult man reported learning only after having sex with Chaneyfield that Chaneyfield was HIV positive and had not disclosed his status beforehand.
Compassionate Care Hospice confirmed Chaneyfield is no longer employed by the company.
"We are aware of the allegations involving a former employee of Compassionate Care Hospice," the company said in a statement. "We will cooperate fully with law enforcement authorities and their investigation of this former employee."
Chaneyfield has been charged with:
- Three counts of lewd battery of a minor
- Three counts of traveling to meet a minor
- Three counts of interfering with custody of a minor
- One count of unlawful use of a two-way communication device
- Four counts of an HIV-positive person having sex without informing a partner
- Possession of marijuana
- Five counts of possession of drug paraphernalia
“Jesus don’t like that, and he’ll have to answer to that one day at a court much higher than ours,” Sheriff Judd said of the case.
Anyone with information about Chaneyfield or additional potential victims is urged to contact the Polk County Sheriff's Office at 863-298-6200.
Tampa Bay 28 Mugshot Policy
When a mugshot is used
If the person is still on the loose and a potential threat to the community; if there is a good chance that showing the suspect would help identify additional victims or otherwise protect the public from a serious threat or if the crime or the suspect is of such a significant note that seeing them in a mugshot is in the greater public interest.
Using previous mugshots
Only if the story is specifically talking about that previous crime
We do not show mugshots of victims
This policy started in early 2021
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