GEORGETOWN COUNTY, SC (WMBF/Gray News) – Four people, including a pastor and his wife, have been charged in a church sex offender case.
On July 13, a concerned parent contacted the Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office after learning convicted sex offender Warren Perry was working as a custodian at Pawleys Island Christian Academy.
The academy offers programs for children from 6 weeks old to kindergarten age.
Don Williams, former senior pastor of Pawleys Island Community Church, and Niki Howard, director of Pawleys Island Christian Academy, are charged with obstruction of justice, unlawful placing of a child at risk and conspiracy.
Ginny Williams, guest services director at Pawleys Island Community Church, and Perry are charged with obstruction of justice and conspiracy.
During a news conference, Georgetown County Sheriff Carter Weaver played a video of a deputy speaking with Don Williams as the deputy told him Perry was being arrested.
Don Williams allegedly told the deputy that Perry had not been around children.
Weaver showed two photos that allegedly show Perry around children.
One of the photos appeared to show an adult washing Perry’s feet with other children around. The other photo appeared to show Perry at a water day event with children.
The Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office said there is other evidence to show Perry was around the children.
Authorities said all four individuals are accused of withholding Perry’s sex offender status and his presence at Pawleys Island Christian Academy.
Don Williams and Howard are additionally accused of knowingly allowing and helping a registered sex offender to be in contact with minors, concealing that information from teachers and staff and placing children at unreasonable risk of harm.
According to the warrants, Perry conspired with church leadership to conceal the particulars of his probation requirements and his contact with minors during his regular work at the establishment.
Perry pleaded guilty in November 2023 to sexual exploitation of a minor and was sentenced to 10 years, which was suspended to five years of probation. As a condition of his probation, Perry was prohibited from contact with minors.
Perry started attending Pawleys Island Community Church in 2020.
Don Williams publicly acknowledged that he and other church leaders knew about Perry’s conviction. He said leadership made a judgment call about how widely to share the information.
Don Williams resigned Friday, the same day a $25 million lawsuit was filed against the church and school.
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