Judge Dismisses All Charges in Pawleys Island, South Carolina, Church Case

A South Carolina magistrate judge has thrown out all charges against leaders of Pawleys Island Community Church and Warren Perry, a registered sex offender who worked at the church’s academy. WMBF-TV Channel 32, an NBC affiliate in Myrtle Beach, reported that the charges did not meet the required legal elements and that some lacked probable cause. The station’s report concerned the Nov. 6 preliminary hearing in Georgetown County.

Samantha Blake, whose son attended pre-kindergarten at the academy, told WMBF she was disappointed. “What they did was morally wrong,” Blake said. “…I hope they’re ready to face their judgment day.”

A probation violation case against Perry remains under advisement. Civil lawsuits against the church and its former leaders remain active, according to WMBF and WPDE Channel 15, an ABC affiliate in Conway. WMBF reported that Perry was released from jail shortly after the ruling.

The case began July 13, when a concerned parent contacted the Georgetown County sheriff’s office about Perry working as a custodian at the academy. Perry had said he volunteered at the church, but he had not disclosed to his probation officer that the church also operated a school and a daycare. Perry, 70, had pleaded guilty in 2023 to third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor. Probation officials said they approved his church service after reviewing his record and the pastor’s character statements, but they prohibited direct contact with minors. Probation agents arrested Perry on July 14, alleging that he gave untruthful reports, entered areas frequented by children and repeatedly contacted minors.

When a deputy told the pastor, Don Williams, that Perry was being arrested for contact with minors, Williams challenged him, according to camera footage. “Okay,” Williams said, “define ‘contact with minors.'” Williams, his wife Ginny, and Jennifer “Niki” Howard resigned before their July arrests, Roys Report (RR) previously reported. Warrants alleged that the three knew of Perry’s offender status and concealed it from teachers, staff and authorities. Sheriff Carter Weaver cited an “abundance of evidence” of endangerment and, at a July news conference, showed photos of Perry at two preschool events as evidence of contact with children. Williams and Howard had faced charges of obstruction of justice, unlawfully placing a child at risk and criminal conspiracy. Ginny Williams and Perry faced obstruction and conspiracy charges. Michael Fields, former director of operations and missions, was charged with unlawfully placing a child at risk. Protecting children from a known risk required the church to be honest with those responsible for their safety (Psalm 82:3).

Erin Bailey, Howard’s attorney, told WMBF that questions about state probation officials’ supervision of Perry played a role in the judge’s decision. Bailey said previous agents had told Perry that incidental contact with children was allowed, and that the state Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services knew a preschool operated at the church where he volunteered. “They had done a site visit to the church, so they were very well aware,” Bailey said. “They had met with Pastor Don Williams and given him guidelines under which Warren Perry could continue to volunteer as a groundskeeper at Pawleys Island Community Church, and those guidelines were followed.” Bailey also said the state attorney general’s office told the judge that multiple children had undergone forensic interviews, but the evidence did not show any child was harmed or touched. Poor judgment, she said, is not necessarily a crime.

Jimmy Richardson, solicitor for South Carolina’s 15th Circuit, told WPDE that the evidence may not have met the legal threshold, since conspiracy requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt. “What I think could be important to the judge is you have proven that he is being around kids. But, you know, the photographs show a lot of adults there also,” Richardson said.

Former academy teacher Eliza Perez said in July that she alerted Williams after learning of Perry’s past, WPDE reported. “He said to me, you don’t want to be the type of Christian that would spread this information.” Asked how that differs from conspiring to hide information, Richardson cited how courts weigh evidence. “When the police are looking at it and you’ve got people saying, ‘This is wrong, we need to tell,’ that certainly pushes you to believe that this person knew or should have known.” Richardson said Perry could still face consequences for breaking probation and expects the case to change how the agency monitors offenders.

The church closed the academy in August after 25 years. One civil lawsuit alleges that Perry sexually abused a 5-year-old boy there. The county’s public index lists six civil cases naming the church, WMBF reported.

Source: Read the original report