Parents Outraged After SC Church Leaders Hid Volunteer’s Sex Offender Status Prior to Arrest

At a tense congregational meeting at Pawleys Island Community Church (PICC) in South Carolina Wednesday, attendees expressed anger that a registered sex offender was, with the knowledge of church leadership, volunteering on a campus that houses an active school. Warren Perry was arrested Tuesday, July 14, for violation of his probation and was released on bond. While Pastor Don Williams maintained that the Pawleys Island church had implemented strict oversight measures on Perry, parents are furious, with some stating to local news outlets that their children had frequent contact with the volunteer. “Sheriff Carter Weaver announces the arrest of a Murrells Inlet man after it was discovered he was a sex offender doing volunteer work in close proximity to children,” said a July 14 Facebook post from the Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office. “A complaint yesterday sparked an investigation of Warren Spence Perry, 70, who volunteered at Pawleys Island Community Church.” “Because the church operates an Elementary School, Preschool and Nursery, Perry was in violation of the conditions of his probation for a 2023 Sexual Exploitation of a Minor conviction for a crime committed in 2020,” said the post. “Investigators contacted South Carolina Probation, Parole, and Pardon, which arrested Perry this afternoon. He has been charged with Violation of Probation.” Pawleys Island Community Church Pastor Reads Statement at Volatile Meeting Pawleys Island Community Church runs Pawleys Island Christian Academy (PICA) as a ministry. The church’s website says the school “offers programs for children ages 6 weeks through kindergarten,” and the site lists Niki Howard as the school’s director. According to ABC 15 News, church volunteer Warren Perry was convicted in 2023 for two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor in the third degree, crimes that were committed in 2020. Authorities reportedly learned that Perry was in violation of his probation after parents found out about his status as a sex offender and alerted officials that he was volunteering on a school campus. RELATED: Nathan Peternel Returns to Ministry Months After Stepping Aside Amid Son’s CSAM Case Pawleys Island Community Church Pastor Don Williams read prepared remarks at a church meeting on Wednesday, July 15. Local news outlets were present and filmed the meeting. Perhaps the most shocking moment from it was when a sobbing woman at the back of the room said that her child had been molested years ago. At a tense congregational meeting at Pawleys Island Community Church in SC, attendees expressed anger that a registered sex offender was, with the knowledge of church leadership, volunteering on a campus that houses an active school.Click to Post