PAWLEYS ISLAND (SC)
WMBF [Myrtle Beach SC]
July 28, 2026
By WMBF News Staff
The South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services failed to monitor a convicted sex offender who volunteered at a church academy in the Pawleys Island area, according to a new lawsuit.
The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in Georgetown County by the parents of a child who attended Pawleys Island Christian Academy, names many of the same key figures as the previous lawsuits.
Those include the church that runs the academy, Pawleys Island Community Church; former senior pastor Don Williams; his wife, former guest services director Ginny Williams; former academy director Niki Howard; and unnamed elders and Warren Perry.
This is the fifth lawsuit filed in connection with Perry’s involvement with the church and school.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE:
- Fourth lawsuit argues Warren Perry functioned as employee at Pawleys Island-area church, not volunteer
- Attorney: Pawleys Island-area church chose cover-up over justice for 5-year-old assault victim
- Child sexual abuse alleged in one of two new lawsuits against Pawleys Island-area church
- 4 charged, including former pastor and wife, in Pawleys Island-area church sex offender case
Perry, a convicted sex offender on probation with conditions prohibiting contact with minors, served as a custodian at Pawleys Island Christian Academy for about six years before his arrest in July.
One of the previously filed lawsuits alleges a child was sexually abused by Perry at the academy in 2022.
The plaintiffs in this lawsuit separately allege that SCDPPPS failed to monitor Perry after his conviction on child sexual exploitation of a minor in 2023.
This is the first lawsuit to name the agency, which said it does not comment on pending litigation.
According to the lawsuit, SCDPPPS approved Perry to volunteer at the church based on character witness statements provided by Don Williams. But Perry never disclosed to his probation agent that the church also operates a school and childcare facility.
A previously filed lawsuit, citing a Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office incident report, states Perry was at the school seven days a week and functioned more as an employee than a volunteer.
According to the new lawsuit, the academy advertised an auction in which a child could win a day working alongside the custodians, one of whom was Perry.
State records show the academy was found not in compliance with background check requirements in February 2024, March 2024, and March 2026, according to reviews conducted by the South Carolina Division of Early Care and Education.
Perry was explicitly instructed during regular agent supervision meetings not to engage in direct contact with minors. Perry told his agent he had no contact with minors and had not been in restricted areas.
After the parent complaint, SCDPPPS investigated and arrested Perry for giving untruthful reports to his agent.
The sheriff’s office later arrested Perry, along with Don and Ginny Williams and Howard, on charges ranging from obstruction of justice and conspiracy to unlawful placing of a child at risk.
A judge set mandatory court appearance dates of Sept. 24 and Oct. 22 for all four defendants.
WMBF News was unable to reach the defendants for comment.
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