A fifth person has been arrested in the ongoing investigation involving Pawleys Island Community Church (PICC), after church leaders allowed a convicted sex offender to be around children, in violation of his parole restrictions.
Last week, the Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of Michael Anthony Fields, the church’s director of operations and missions. Fields faces a charge of unlawfully placing a child at risk or causing a child harm.
According to authorities, he was responsible for the security of the entire campus and the safety of students at the Pawleys Island Christian Academy (PICA). The announcement was posted on the sheriff’s office Facebook page.
Earlier this month, former church pastor Don Williams, church administrator Ginny Williams, and former PICA director Jennifer “Niki” Howard were arrested. They were charged with obstruction, criminal conspiracy, and unlawfully placing a child at risk or causing a child harm.
The case began in early July when concerned parents contacted authorities after learning that 70-year-old Warren Perry below, had been volunteering at the church school several days a week. Perry, who was convicted in 2023 of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, was in close proximity to children in violation of his parole.
Authorities investigated and arrested Perry for the breach, but later charged the church leaders after discovering they chose to bring the offender on board while intentionally concealing his sex-offender status from parents and teachers.
The revelations sparked outrage among parents and congregants upon discovery. Williams, his wife, and Howard, along with several elders, resigned from the church.
The church is now the subject of at least five lawsuits.
