WHITEVILLE, N.C. — A former Columbus County church leader who was already awaiting trial on pending sex crime charges in South Carolina is now behind bars facing a mounting pile of financial felonies.
Devin Cyrus Carroll, 23, of Conway, S.C. (formerly of Loris and listed in recent jail logs with a Conway address), was taken into custody by the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office at approximately 7:50 p.m. on Aug. 26, 2026. He was processed into the Columbus County Detention Center under Booking ID 97600 and is being held under a $75,000 secured bond.
According to arrest warrants cited in local reporting, Carroll has been hit with 16 felony counts of embezzlement. Investigators allege that Carroll embezzled a total of $57,934.13 from Happy Home Baptist Church in Nakina, where he previously served as pastor from May 2024 until July 2025. The alleged financial offenses date back to February 2024.
Detailed Allegations
Court documents outline that the vast majority of the missing church funds were diverted toward personal financial obligations:
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Loan Payments: Warrants allege that $42,925 of church money went directly toward outstanding loan payments to Advance America, with individual payments ranging from $2,900 to $9,900.
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Personal & Retail Expenses: Approximately $14,685.98 was allegedly spent on restaurant visits, retail purchases across multiple states, horseback riding, a cellphone bill, payments to a law firm, and a veterinary clinic visit for a dog belonging to the church.
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Additional Retail: An extra $323.15 was allegedly tracked to miscellaneous retail purchases.
Carroll made his initial court appearance following the booking, where a public defender was appointed to represent him.
Prior Legal Troubles
At the time of his arrest on the embezzlement charges, Carroll was already out on pretrial release connected to a separate, pending criminal case across state lines.
In July 2025, while working as an in-school suspension supervisor/teacher’s aide at Conway Middle School and leading the congregation at Happy Home Church, Carroll was arrested by Conway Police. South Carolina authorities charged him with third-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor and attempted lewd acts involving a 13-year-old student. He was released at that time on a $30,000 secured bond, and that case remains pending trial.
Carroll resigned from his position at Conway Middle School in June 2025 and his tenure at Happy Home Church ended around the time of his initial 2025 arrest.
All individuals listed are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Charges and case statuses may change as investigations and court proceedings continue.
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