Pawleys Island church child endangerment case

In late July 2026, former senior pastor Don Williams, his wife Ginny, academy director Niki Howard and registered sex offender Warren Perry were arrested after a search warrant revealed a scheme that placed the offender in proximity to children at the church‑run academy. The charges included obstruction of justice, criminal conspiracy and unlawful conduct toward a child, prompting condemnation from the South Carolina Baptist Convention and calls for tighter child‑protection policies.

A few weeks later, on 7 August 2026, a federal class‑action lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina. The complaint names the Southern Baptist Convention, its Executive Committee, the church, the academy and the same individuals as defendants, alleging that Perry was given unrestricted access to children despite his criminal record and that church leaders concealed his presence. The suit seeks class‑action status for over 100 children and damages under the Class Action Fairness Act. SBC President Jeff Iorg indicated the organization would review the litigation and respond appropriately.