Bond Denied for Sex Offender Warren Perry in Pawleys Island Church Case

Convicted sex offender Warren Perry was denied bond after volunteering at a South Carolina church with children present. Three church leaders were granted bond at $75,000 and $50,000.

Sex Offender Denied Bond After Volunteering at Pawleys Island Church

Convicted sex offender Warren Perry was denied bond on Tuesday after appearing in Georgetown County court, abcnews4.com reports. Perry faces charges stemming from his volunteer role at Pawleys Island Community Church, where a daycare and school operated on the same property.

Three church leaders appeared alongside Perry: former pastor Don Williams, his wife Ginny Williams, and Academy Director Jennifer "Niki" Howard. All four face various charges following an investigation led by Georgetown County Sheriff Carter Weaver into Perry's access to children on the campus.

Howard was granted a $25,000 bond on each of her three charges — unlawfully placing a child at risk, criminal conspiracy, and obstruction of justice — for a total of $75,000. Her attorney argued during the hearing that Howard had been acting on her supervisor's instructions.

"My client was an employee," Howard's attorney stated. "My client's boss was not just her boss, but also her pastor. He exercised a great amount of power, not only over that church, but over her individually. She trusted her boss and her pastor to be truthful and honest with her. … She feels like she was led astray."

Booking records confirm Howard was released from the Georgetown County Detention Center on Tuesday evening.

Former pastor Don Williams — charged with obstruction of justice, unlawfully placing a child at risk, and criminal conspiracy — received a $25,000 bond per charge, totalling $75,000. His wife Ginny Williams, charged with criminal conspiracy and obstruction of justice, was granted $25,000 per count, amounting to $50,000. Both were represented by the same attorney and told the court they posed no flight risk.

None of the three church employees had a prior criminal record before Tuesday's hearing.

Don Williams, Ginny Williams, and Howard had each resigned from their positions at the church just days before their arrests, following public backlash over Perry's continued involvement there. Despite being a registered sex offender, Perry was knowingly allowed to volunteer at the church while children attended the daycare and school on the property.

Perry was arrested in Georgetown County. Don and Ginny Williams were taken into custody in Summerville and subsequently extradited to Georgetown County. Howard turned herself in at the Georgetown County Detention Center.

Investigators said Perry volunteered at the church seven days a week. According to authorities, Perry failed to inform his probation officer that the campus housed a daycare and school — a disclosure required under the terms of his supervision.

Court documents allege Perry had access to areas where children were present. The case has also triggered a civil lawsuit against the church, with plaintiffs seeking damages related to Perry's ongoing involvement in church operations.

Source: Google News GY — Georgetown