By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2026-08-08 14:01:55 | Updated at 2026-08-08 14:42:05
57 minutes ago
A dope-smoking pastor has been accused of sexually assaulting and potentially infecting a 14-year-old with HIV in Florida.
Timothy Chaneyfield, 42, was arrested in Orlando after the Polk County Sheriff's Office received a tip from Instagram about a potentially inappropriate activity between him and a minor.
'Instagram was principal in stopping a child pedophile from sexually battering children while being HIV positive. If all other social media online did exactly what Instagram did, we could stop this,' Sheriff Grady Judd said at a press conference.
After being taken into custody, the pastor, who preaches at St James United American Free Will Baptist Church, allegedly admitted to the crime.
'He confessed,' Judd said. 'He confessed that he picked up this 14-year-old child on at least three different occasions, took him to Timothy's home in Eagle Lake, where he engaged this child in sex.
'That wasn't it. That wasn't all. Timothy is HIV positive. He failed to tell this 14-year-old child that "I'm HIV positive," and he had unprotected sex,' Judd fumed.
Police made sure the teenager received medical care, including what he called an 'HIV cocktail,' in hopes of making sure the child does not contract the lifelong disease.
However, police later discovered a 26-year-old victim had also engaged in sex with Chaneyfield and is now HIV positive.
Timothy Chaneyfield, 42, was arrested in Orlando after the Polk County Sheriff's Office received a tip from Instagram about inappropriate activity between him and a 14-year-old boy
'He's a dope-smoking pedophile preacher,' Sheriff Grady Judd said. 'Jesus don't like that'
Judd has accused the pastor of being a 'super spreader' who has more than likely infected more people than they currently know of.
'He was very aggressive and very adamant about having sex with apparently adults or children,' Judd said.
Chaneyfield has been charged with three counts of lewd battery against a child, failing to disclose his HIV status, traveling to meet a minor, computer-related charges and possession of marijuana.
'This is a dope-smoking preacher right here in front of you,' Judd criticized. 'He's a dope-smoking pedophile preacher.
'Jesus don't like that,' he continued. 'And now he's locked up in the county jail, where he should be... He's an evil man.'
Judd said they tried to catch Chaneyfield while he was in Baltimore, Maryland, but local airport enforcement gave them 'zero assistance.'
'I don't expect any more than that, that place is a trainwreck anyways,' Judd said about the airport and the Maryland Department of Transportation Authority police.
When the pastor arrived in Orlando, the local police department arrested Chaneyfield, booking him into the Orange County Jail before transferring him to Polk County.
Chaneyfield allegedly picked up the kid three times and brought him back to his residence. He is also HIV positive and did not disclose that to the teen
Chaneyfield preaches at St James United American Free Will Baptist Church in New Haven, Florida. He was ordained in 2020
When asked if Chaneyfield had any remorse for his actions, Judd said no.
'This is what he does. He sexually batters children,' the no-nonsense sheriff said.
Chaneyfield allegedly told police that he was taking medication for HIV and claimed to have told the child on social media.
'Well, we see zero evidence of that,' Judd lamented. 'The 14-year-old victim said: "He didn't tell me that."'
'He's nasty, this guy is nasty,' Judd continued. 'He's a menace to society, and he's proven that.'
Outside of being a pastor, Chaneyfield spent 10 years working inside Crystal Lake Middle School. He was ordained as a pastor in 2020.
Judd is encouraging anyone who has engaged in sexual contact with Chaneyfield to go to the hospital for testing and treatment.
'Call us, we'll meet you there,' he said. 'We will get you the care that you need.'
