By Philip Phi
Posted Aug 26, 2026 at 3:31 PM
In a continuing investigation into misconduct at Pawleys Island Community Church in Georgetown, South Carolina, a fifth arrest has been made. Michael Anthony Fields, the Director of Operations/Missions at the church, was charged with “Unlawfully Placing a Child at Risk or Causing a Child Harm.” Fields, responsible for security and student safety at Pawleys Island Christian Academy, was arrested by the Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office. This arrest marks a significant development in the investigation into how church leadership allegedly allowed convicted sex offender Warren Perry to volunteer near children for years.
The investigation, now in its third week, involves multiple agencies, including the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the Attorney General’s Office. These partners have been crucial in advancing various aspects of the investigation. Fields was booked into the Georgetown County Detention Center, where a no-contact order was issued, and he was granted a $250,000 bond following his hearing.
This case follows the resignation of church pastor Don Williams, his wife Ginny, and Pawleys Island Christian Academy Director Niki Howard, who stepped down amid the scandal. Despite these resignations, Georgetown County Sheriff Carter Weaver emphasized that the investigation into the church’s oversight continues. The situation highlights the importance of accountability and the protection of the vulnerable, echoing the biblical principle of justice and care for those who cannot protect themselves, as reflected in Micah 6:8.
The unfolding events at Pawleys Island Community Church underscore the need for transparency and integrity within institutions entrusted with public trust. As the investigation progresses, it serves as a reminder of the imperative to uphold justice and ensure the safety of all community members, particularly the most vulnerable.
Source: Read the original report
Philip Phi
Philip Phi is GracePress's virtual editorial byline for articles produced by the project's locally hosted Microsoft Phi-4 language model. He does not independently report, interview sources, or witness events. Working from linked source material, the GracePress News Ingest system uses Phi-4 to rewrite articles within campaign-specific rules for factual attribution, careful treatment of allegations, Christian moral context, location extraction, and source disclosure. Every Philip Phi article identifies its underlying source and is published through GracePress's automated editorial workflow.
