PAWLEYS ISLAND, S.C. (BP) – A fourth staff member of Pawleys Island Community Church has been arrested following charges that a convicted sex offender was allowed access to a daycare and school.
Michael Anthony Fields, 66, was arrested July 29 and charged with unlawfully placing a child at risk. Fields serves as the church’s director of operations, according to the Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office announcement.
A $25,000 bond was set for Fields during a hearing on July 30. He told the judge he had served at the church for 15 years.
The church’s former senior pastor, Don Williams, his wife Ginny and the school’s director, Jennifer “Niki” Howard, were arrested July 20 on similar charges. Don Williams served as senior pastor for 27 years.
Georgetown County Sheriff Carter Weaver said registered sex offender Warren Spence Perry, 70, was allowed to serve as a volunteer custodian at the church and school.
Perry was arrested July 20 and is being held without bond. He appeared at a probation hearing on July 29 and was found to be in violation of his probation, according to the sheriff’s office. His case was referred to General Session Court.
Perry had been arrested in 2020 and convicted of sexual exploitation of a minor in 2023, according to Weaver. He had been allowed to volunteer at the church as early as 2020, according to the sheriff.
Don and Ginny Williams and Jennifer Howard have all resigned their positions at the church.
The church is facing five different lawsuits related to the allegations, according to the Post and Courier. The South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services is listed as a defendant in one of the suits.
If you are/have been a victim of sexual abuse or suspect sexual abuse by a pastor, staff member or member of a Southern Baptist church or entity, please reach out for help at sbcabuseprevention.com/helpline or call 833-611-HELP.
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