By Gloria Drealomalicha
A Florida pastor has been arrested and charged with multiple offences after investigators accused him of sexually abusing a minor he allegedly met through a dating application.
The suspect, identified as 42-year-old Timothy Chaneyfield, pastor of St. James United American Free Will Baptist Church, was taken into custody by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit following an investigation triggered by a cyber tip submitted by Instagram.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said the social media platform alerted authorities after detecting suspected inappropriate communication between an adult and a child.
According to investigators, the alleged victim told detectives he first came into contact with Chaneyfield on a dating app before their conversations continued on Instagram.
Detectives alleged that Chaneyfield picked the child up from his neighbourhood on three occasions, drove him to his home and sexually abused him.
Investigators further claimed that during a subsequent telephone conversation, Chaneyfield expressed a desire to continue having sexual relations with the child. He also reportedly told the victim that he was travelling to Baltimore for work.
As the investigation progressed, detectives discovered that Chaneyfield also served as a chaplain with Compassionate Care Hospice and had been scheduled to officiate at a funeral.
Police later obtained an arrest warrant and, with support from the Orlando Police Department, arrested Chaneyfield at Orlando International Airport on 29 July after he returned from a trip.
Authorities said Chaneyfield admitted during questioning that he had engaged in sexual activity with the child.
Detectives also revealed that Chaneyfield is HIV-positive and undergoing treatment. They alleged that he failed to disclose his HIV status to both the alleged child victim and another adult before engaging in sexual activity, resulting in additional charges.
He has been charged with unlawful use of a two-way communication device, travelling to meet an individual, four counts of engaging in sexual activity without disclosing his HIV-positive status, possession of marijuana and five counts of possessing drug paraphernalia.
Chaneyfield is being held on a bond exceeding $350,000 as prosecutors prepare to pursue the case. The allegations against him have not yet been tested in court, and he remains entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
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