By Philip Phi
Posted Aug 30, 2026 at 2:10 AM
The Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO) has reopened an investigation into a 2022 child sexual abuse case following a lawsuit against Pawleys Island Community Church and Pawleys Island Christian Academy. The case, initially referred by the South Carolina Department of Social Services in August 2022, involved an allegation concerning a 5-year-old child on the academy’s campus. Although the original investigation was thorough, it did not yield sufficient evidence to secure a search warrant after forensic interviews were conducted.
In a renewed effort to ensure justice and accountability, the GCSO has decided to review the case again, emphasizing the importance of examining every possible lead. This decision underscores the principle that “justice shall not be perverted, nor shall the mighty be allowed to oppress the weak” (Proverbs 11:1). While the sheriff’s office has not indicated that the review will lead to a different outcome, the commitment to a thorough investigation reflects a dedication to public trust and legal integrity.
The lawsuit against the church and its leaders stems from an incident in 2022, where a child disclosed to his parents that he had been sexually abused on the church campus. The case gained further attention after former pastor Don Williams, his wife Ginny, and academy director Jennifer “Niki” Howard were arrested for allegedly allowing Warren Perry, a registered sex offender, to volunteer around children for years. Perry remains in custody at the Georgetown County Detention Center following a judge’s denial of his bond.
This situation highlights the critical need for vigilance and accountability within institutions entrusted with the care of the vulnerable. As Ephesians 5:11 reminds us, “But everything that becomes visible is light, and everything that is illuminated becomes visible.” In this light, the ongoing investigation seeks to uncover the truth and ensure that justice is served, reflecting the biblical call to care for victims and uphold justice in the community.
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.
