Bond set at $25K for church operations director in Pawleys Island investigation

Georgetown Co., S.C. (WPDE)–A fifth person has been arrested in the investigation related to a sex offender volunteering at a Pawleys Island church and private school.

Wednesday, Georgetown County Sheriff Carter Weaver announced his office had arrested the church operations director, Michael Anthony Fields, and charged him with unlawfully placing a child at risk or causing a child harm; Fields serves as director of operations and missions at Pawleys Island Community Church. Officials said Fields was responsible for security across the church campus and for the safety of students at Pawleys Island Christian Academy, known as PICA.

Deputies said it is in the third week of its investigation into church leadership and how convicted sex offender Warren Perry was allowed to volunteer on the campus in proximity to children for years.

Authorities said investigators and partner agencies are continuing to conduct interviews and examine forensic digital evidence extracted from devices used by church leaders. Specialized forensic interviews have been conducted by the Children’s Recovery Center with students who may or may not have been victims of a criminal act while at PICA, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Those interviews have not resulted in any findings of criminal sexual conduct to date, officials said.

Perry was arrested July 20. His South Carolina Dept. of Probation, Pardon and Parole hearing was held Wednesday morning, where a judge found he violated the terms of his plea agreement and ruled his case can move forward to General Sessions Court.

Former church Pastor Don Williams, Administrator Ginny Williams and former PICA Director Jennifer “Niki” Howard were also arrested on July 20. They are charged with obstruction, criminal conspiracy and unlawfully placing a child at risk or causing a child harm, according to the Sheriff’s Office.