PAWLEYS ISLAND, SC (WMBF) – A Murrells Inlet man was arrested Tuesday after authorities said he violated his probation.
Warren Spence Perry, 70, was charged with violation of probation stemming from a 2023 conviction for sexual exploitation of a minor that investigators said occurred in 2020.
Perry was found to be working at Pawleys Island Community Church, which operates Pawleys Island Christian Academy, an elementary school, preschool, and nursery serving children ranging in age from six weeks old to kindergarten.
Former academy teachers said Perry began working in the building around 2021 as a volunteer maintenance worker and interacted with students regularly.
Former 4-K teacher Allie Osborne said she and her co-teacher, Erika, learned Perry was listed on the sex offender registry Friday night. Osborne said when they brought the information to school leadership, including Pastor Don Williams and Academy Director Niki Howard, they were told leadership was already aware.
Osborne’s co-teacher reported Perry to authorities on Monday, citing concern about his proximity to students.
“I saw Warren every single day, pretty much. He was there all the time,” Osborne said.
Osborne said the situation left her feeling responsible for the children in her care.
“I felt guilty because even though I had no idea, I mean, my job is to keep them safe, and I was given an awful situation and was unable to do that properly,” Osborne said.
Parents of current and former students have posted concerns online. Parents who spoke with reporter Katherine Schreiner said they plan to withdraw or not re-enroll their children after learning their kids may have interacted with Perry nearly every day.
Parent Samantha Blake said her son had a relationship with Perry through regular school activities.
“My son has come home and told me stories about Mr. Warren, how the kids sang him happy birthday for his birthday, and how they’ve helped water flowers with him, and he’s played frisbee with them, and I mean my son knows this man,” Blake said.
Explaining the situation to her young child has been one of the hardest parts, she said.
“Like, was he ever alone with him, you know, and how do you bring that up to a 5-year-old?” Blake said.“How do you bring it up to someone, a 5-year-old that really has no concept of what’s actually going on? They don’t need to know the depths of it, but how do you bring that up to them? I have no idea. They don’t teach you that. There’s no manual for it.”
In South Carolina, residents can search for registered sex offenders through the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) Sex Offender Registry. Users must agree to the terms of use before accessing the database.
Searches can be conducted by location by entering a street address, city, state, and ZIP code to see results within a one to three-mile radius.
Searches by first and last name are also available. Results can include a photo, physical description, primary and work addresses, aliases, and other information.
Osborne said the registry was the only reason the situation came to light.
“If they hadn’t seen Perry listed on the registry, they may have never known,” Osborne said.
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