Georgetown County Sheriff Carter Weaver has announced the arrest of a Murrells Inlet man after investigators discovered he was a registered sex offender who had been volunteering in proximity to children.
The arrest comes after a complaint filed against the man raised concerns about his presence at a local church that also operates a school.
Who Was Arrested
Warren Spence Perry, age 70, is the man named in the arrest. According to the Sheriff’s Office, Perry had been volunteering at Pawleys Island Community Church. Because the church operates an Elementary School, Preschool, and Nursery on its campus, Perry’s volunteer work placed him in direct violation of his probation terms.
- Perry is a registered sex offender
- He was convicted in 2023 for Sexual Exploitation
- His probation barred him from being near children
- He volunteered at a church campus with a school, preschool, and nursery
How the Investigation Started
The case began after a complaint was received by the Sheriff’s Office. Once deputies looked into the report, they confirmed that Perry’s status as a registered offender conflicted directly with the conditions of his probation from the 2023 case.
Investigators moved quickly once the connection between his volunteer role and the presence of young children on campus was established.
Community Reaction
News of the arrest spread fast on social media, with many residents reacting with concern and frustration. Several commenters questioned why the church had not run a background check before allowing Perry to volunteer, while others pointed out that the state sex offender registry is public and searchable online by name or location.
Some community members are now calling for stronger requirements across South Carolina, suggesting that any organization allowing volunteers to work around children should be legally required to run background checks and cross-reference the sex offender registry beforehand.
Local residents have shared mixed reactions, ranging from disbelief to renewed calls for policy changes at churches, schools and youth organizations across the county.
The Sheriff’s Office has not released further details about additional charges Perry may be facing beyond the probation violation, and the investigation appears to still be active.
Residents are reminded that South Carolina maintains a public sex offender registry, searchable by name or location, which can be used by parents, schools, and organizations to check the background of anyone who may come into contact with children.
Updates on this developing story will be added as more information becomes available from the Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office.
