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Welcome to the Polk County Sheriff's Office News Room, where the Public Information Officers (PIO's) post all of the information that they release to the news media. PIO's act as liaisons between news media organizations and the Sheriff's Office. The PIO's routinely release timely and accurate information and Crime Stoppers bulletins, and respond to routine and "breaking news" media inquiries. News releases and Crime Stoppers information can be found on this page.
PCSO's full-time Public Information Officers are Carrie Horstman, Brian Bruchey, and Julianna Rivera. The Public Information Officers can be reached by sending an e-mail collectively at PIOs@polksheriff.org.
The recent news releases sent out by the PIOs can be found here, and archived releases (older than 2017) can be found here.
Aug 4, 2026
PCSO Special Victims Unit detectives arrest Winter Haven pastor for sexual battery of a child and several other felonies
Media Contact: Juliana Rivera, PIO
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit arrested and charged 42-year-old Timothy Chaneyfield, the pastor at St. James United American Free Will Baptist Church in Winter Haven, after receiving a NCMEC (National Center for Missing and Endangered Children) cyber tip regarding inappropriate contact he was having with a child.
The investigation began on July 28, 2026 upon receipt of the tip. During an interview, the 14-year-old victim disclosed that he and Chaneyfield met on a dating mobile app, and then continued to chat via Instagram, which is where the NCMEC tip was generated. Chaneyfield picked up the victim on three consecutive days at the entrance to the victim’s subdivision, then drove the victim to his house in Winter Haven, where he had sex with the victim each day. During a phone call with the victim, Chaneyfield told the child that he wanted to continue having sex with him. He then told the victim that he was flying to Baltimore for work.
Detectives learned that Chaneyfield is a chaplain for Compassionate Care Hospice and was going to preside over a funeral in Baltimore. Detectives obtained a warrant for Chaneyfield’s arrest, and working with the Orlando Police Department, he was taken into custody upon his return to the Orlando airport on July 29, 2026. He was booked into the Orange County Jail on the Polk County warrant, and PCSO detectives interviewed him. During the interview, he admitted to the sexual activity with the minor. He was transferred to the Polk County Jail on Saturday, August 1, 2026.
During a separate investigation, an adult male reported to the PCSO that he had sex with Chaneyfield and learned after-the-fact that Chaneyfield was HIV positive. Detectives confirmed that Chaneyfield is HIV positive and is taking medication for the disease, and that Chaneyfield did not inform the adult victim, nor the child, about his HIV status. He has been appropriately charged for those crimes as well.
So far, Chaneyfield has been charged with:
Three counts lewd battery of a minor (F2)
Three counts interfering with custody of a minor (F3)
Unlawful use of a two-way communication device (F3)
Three counts of travelling to meet a minor (F2)
Four counts of an HIV infected person having sex without informing partner (F3)
Possession of marijuana (M1)
Five counts possession of drug paraphernalia (M1)
He is being held on over $350,000 bond.
If anyone has information regarding Timothy Chaneyfield having inappropriate contact with other minors, or other adult victims without disclosing his HIV status, they are urged to contact the Polk County Sheriff’s Office at 863-298-6200.
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