Alan Chambers Facing Charges Related to Messages with a Detective Posing as a Teen

The executive with John Craig Clothier is also known for his work with the Park Avenue District and for his work two decades ago as a leader in the “ex-gay movement”

May 19, 2026

Alan Chambers, well-known for his work with the Park Avenue District and as an executive with John Craig Clothier, was arrested by Orange County Sheriff’s detectives on Tuesday morning and is facing charges related to conversations over Snapchat, text and other apps with a detective who he believed to be a 14-year-old boy, according to a report from the sheriff’s office.

Chambers, 54, began exchanging messages with an undercover Snapchat account operated by Orange County Det. Jeffrey Payne in February, according to the report. The detective portrayed himself as a 14-year-old living in Orlando “near Millenia.”

“This user expressed concern over our age difference,” according to the sheriff’s report and attempted to arrange several meetings, but the two never met.

The report detailed multiple messages with sexually-charged content.

The detective’s written narrative described a digital trail of communications linked to Chambers after the sheriff’s office subpoenaed records from AT&T, Charter, Snapchat and Google.

Chambers was arrested Tuesday about 8:30 a.m. after detectives pulled over his vehicle on Aloma Avenue near Strathy Lane.

“When I asked Alan if he communicated with any children, he told me that he communicates with one, who he identified as [redacted] who was fourteen years old and who he met on Snapchat,” the detective wrote. “When I asked him what they discussed, he told me that they discussed meeting but would not specify to do what. When I asked Alan further questions he told me that he would rather not say anymore.”

Chambers faces three third-degree felony charges: soliciting a minor via a computer; distributing harmful material to a minor and unlawful use of a two-way communication device.

As of Tuesday afternoon, no attorney was listed in his court file as representing Chambers.

A sheriff’s spokesperson said detectives are interested in knowing whether any minors communicated with him and asked for anyone with information to call the non-emergency line at 407-836-4357.

Chambers’ bio appeared to be removed from the Park Avenue District web site, where he was previously listed as co-president. Attempts to contact district officers were unsuccessful.

Chambers had recently been an outspoken advocate for fellow merchants, including about frustration related to city construction along Park Avenue and last year when the district went through a shake-up last year over a controversy stemming from a misinformation campaign about the city’s Christmas events.

Chambers made national headlines for his work with a Christian group known as Exodus International, which promoted a discredited therapy to “convert” gay people to straight, and for his previous opposition to gay marriage. He later apologized for that work, penned an op-ed in the Washington Post in 2015 supporting gay marriage and authored a book that same year with his wife called “My Exodus.”

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