Pawleys Island Community Church's legal troubles continue to deepen as a fifth civil lawsuit has now been filed, expanding the scope of the high-profile scandal by naming the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services (SCDPPPS) as a defendant for the first time.
Filed on July 28, the lawsuit alleges that both church leaders and state probation officials failed to protect children from convicted sex offender Warren Perry, who volunteered as a custodian on the shared campus of Pawleys Island Community Church and Pawleys Island Christian Academy despite being on probation.
The complaint, brought by parents identified as John and Jane Doe on behalf of their minor child, claims church leaders knowingly allowed Perry regular access to children while concealing his criminal history from parents, teachers, and the wider congregation. It also accuses South Carolina's probation department of gross negligence for allegedly failing to enforce Perry's probation conditions or adequately monitor his activities.
According to the lawsuit, the family's child was placed in an environment where they may have been exposed to inappropriate conduct, with the parents arguing they may never know "the full extent" of what their child witnessed or experienced because of Perry's continued presence around children.
The latest filing marks another dramatic chapter in a scandal that has shaken the South Carolina church community since mid-July.
The controversy erupted after Perry was arrested on July 14 for allegedly violating the terms of his probation. During a tense congregational meeting the following day, then-Pastor Don Williams acknowledged that church leadership had intentionally withheld Perry's status as a registered sex offender from parents and school staff.
Within days, Williams, his wife Ginny Williams, Pawleys Island Christian Academy Director Niki Howard, and several church elders resigned from their positions as public outrage intensified.
Criminal charges soon followed. On July 20, Don Williams and Howard were arrested on charges including obstruction of justice, criminal conspiracy, and unlawfully placing a child at risk. Ginny Williams and Perry were also arrested on obstruction and conspiracy charges, while Ginny Williams later faced an additional child-endangerment charge after investigators alleged she exercised supervisory authority over the academy.
Meanwhile, the civil litigation has continued to mount.
The newest lawsuit joins four previously filed actions against the church and its former leadership, including a $25 million class-action lawsuit and another complaint alleging Perry sexually abused a five-year-old student in 2022. Other lawsuits accuse church leaders of falsely assuring parents that the campus was safe while allowing a known sex offender to work among children.
What makes the newest filing especially significant is its focus on the state's alleged role. The complaint argues that probation officials should have prevented Perry from serving on a campus attended by children and failed to properly supervise his compliance with probation requirements.
The lawsuit seeks actual, compensatory, and punitive damages, along with reimbursement for tuition, medical and psychological expenses, attorney fees, and additional damages under South Carolina's unfair trade practices laws.
The South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services declined to comment on the pending litigation.
Pawleys Island Community Church has also remained largely silent as the legal fallout continues. Church leaders recently informed congregants that in-person worship services would remain suspended until Aug. 2, saying they were "heartbroken" by the crisis and asking members to pray as they navigate the unfolding situation.
With criminal prosecutions moving forward and civil lawsuits continuing to multiply, the scandal surrounding Pawleys Island Community Church shows no signs of slowing down, as investigators, attorneys, and families seek answers over how a registered sex offender was able to serve for years on a campus frequented by children.
