According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, 42-year-old Winter Haven pastor Timothy Chaneyfield was arrested and charged with multiple counts of sexual abuse involving a 14-year-old boy he met through a dating app. Sheriff Grady Judd stated during a press briefing that the suspect allegedly drove to a residential neighborhood entry point on three days to pick up the minor, transporting him to an Eagle Creek home where the assaults occurred.
Arrest at Orlando International Airport After Baltimore Funeral Service
According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, investigators tracked Timothy Chaneyfield out of state while he traveled to Baltimore to serve as a hospice chaplain for a funeral service. Detectives secured an arrest warrant during his absence, and law enforcement officers subsequently apprehended him upon his return to Florida. According to jail records, authorities took him into custody at Orlando International Airport on July 29 and transferred him to the Polk County Jail on August 1. According to the magazine People, a local court set his total bond at more than $350,000.
Allegations of Undisclosed HIV Status and Medical Intervention
According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, investigators discovered that Timothy Chaneyfield is HIV-positive and failed to disclose his medical status to the 14-year-old before the alleged sexual contacts. Sheriff Grady Judd reported that law enforcement immediately coordinated preventative medical care for the minor to minimize the risk of virus transmission. In the wake of the public announcement, an additional 26-year-old man came forward to detectives, stating he had a sexual relationship with the pastor and subsequently received an HIV diagnosis. According to police statements, investigators are actively examining whether the suspect also withheld his health status from the second individual, and authorities have urged anyone else with information to come forward.
Pro Tips for Identifying Abuse and Seeking Help
Professional Background and Multiple Criminal Charges
According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Timothy Chaneyfield served as the main pastor at St. James United American Free Will Baptist Church in Winter Haven and worked professionally as a hospice chaplain for Compassionate Care Hospice. Public records show his past employment history also included working within the Polk County school district as a paraprofessional, a substitute teacher, and an IT department staff member. Prosecutors have filed a comprehensive list of charges against him, including three counts of sexual battery on a minor, three counts of interference with child custody, three counts of traveling to meet a minor, and unlawful use of a communication device. He additionally faces four charges related to sexual contact without disclosing an HIV-positive status, alongside drug-related offenses for marijuana and paraphernalia possession.
Did You Know?
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Timothy Chaneyfield?
According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Timothy Chaneyfield is a 42-year-old Winter Haven resident who worked as the head pastor of St. James United American Free Will Baptist Church and as a hospice chaplain.
What specific charges does the suspect face?
According to police reports, he faces dozens of charges, including multiple counts of sexual abuse of a minor, interference with child custody, unlawful communication use, failing to disclose an HIV-positive status during sexual contact, and drug possession.
How was the suspect apprehended?
According to investigators, authorities issued a warrant while the suspect was out of state for a funeral in Baltimore and arrested him upon his return to Orlando International Airport on July 29.
What help has been provided to the minor involved?
According to Sheriff Grady Judd, law enforcement secured urgent preventative medical treatment for the 14-year-old victim to lower the likelihood of HIV transmission following the exposure.
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