The Georgetown County Sheriff’s office has issued arrest warrants for three former leaders of Pawley’s Island Community Church after the sheriff says they allowed a convicted sex offender to work near children.
Sheriff Carter Weaver held a press conference late Monday, saying a community member brought the matter to their attention a little more than a week ago. Investigators served search warrants on the church this past weekend. The three church leaders have since resigned.
The accused
They are former church pastor Donald Williams, his wife Ginny, and former Pawley’s Island Christian Academy Director Niki Howard. All face charges including conspiracy, obstructing justice, and unlawfully placing a child at risk.
Sheriff Weaver says the three allowed convicted sex offender Warren Perry to work at the church as a custodian shortly after his arrest in 2020 for sexual exploitation of a minor. Weaver was convicted in 2023 and placed on a sex offender registry. He has since been re-arrested for violating probation.
The sheriff says initial interviews with church leaders just didn’t add up.
“At the time, church leadership stated that he did volunteer at the church seven days week,” said Sheriff Weaver. “And that the church has taken measures to ensure that he is not allowed around children.”
Photographic evidence
But the sheriff said evidence collected at the church shows otherwise, as he held up two photos for the media. One showed children playing near Perry. The other depicted Perry having his feet washed in front of children.
“These photos here along with numerous others clearly show Mr. Perry in close proximity to children,” said Sheriff Weaver. “And who do you think allowed that?”
The sheriff also played video of former pastor Williams denying that Perry was ever around children.
“This is sickening in and of itself,” said the sheriff. “Coupled with the video of ‘I just don’t know what you’re talking about.’”
What’s next?
Sheriff Weaver says the investigation is ongoing and there could be more charges, as well as more arrests.
He says investigators are looking into other elders at the church and conducting a forensic search of all digital devices. They also plan to interview children who were exposed to Perry.
