SC pastor and wife who owns daycare arrested for crimes against kids, cops say
The pastor of a church in South Carolina and his wife, who owns and operates a daycare facility in Columbia, were recently charged with crimes against children, according to the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.
Rodney Gibson, 50, was charged with first-degree criminal sexual conduct, second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor, unlawful conduct toward a minor and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, the sheriff’s department said Monday in a news release.
Gibson’s wife, 50-year-old Kawiana Young, also was charged with unlawful conduct toward a minor, according to the release.
Potential victims
On March 12, deputies learned that a victim came forward in reference to sexual abuse that she suffered while in foster care in the home of Gibson and Young, the sheriff’s department said. The victim said that Gibson sexually assaulted her numerous times beginning at the age of 15 until she aged out of foster care as an adult, according to the release.
An investigation was opened and deputies learned that a minor child was living in Gibson and Young’s home at that time, the sheriff’s department said. Investigators learned of allegations of physical abuse by Young against that minor child, and took the child into emergency protective custody March 18, according to the release.
An emergency protective custody hearing was held March 20, where a family court judge returned the minor child to Gibson and Young’s home, the sheriff’s department said.
After conducting more interviews and obtaining additional evidence, investigators obtained arrest warrants for Gibson and Young, according to the release. On April 1, member’s of the sheriff’s department’s Fugitive Task Force located and arrested Gibson and Young, according to the release.
Once again, the child was taken into emergency protective custody by deputies following the arrests, the sheriff’s department said.
On April 2, Gibson was released on a $75,000 surety bond, while Young was released on a $10,000 personal recognizance bond, according to the release.
Information about where the child is currently living was not available. But the South Carolina Department of Social Services released a statement that said Young adopted the child from foster care in 2024.
Young was formerly licensed as a foster parent in South Carolina from June 30, 2021, through June 5, 2025, during which time she cared for six children in her home according to DSS records. Young voluntarily relinquished her foster parent license, at her request, in June 2025, DSS officials said.
Proximity to children
The sheriff’s department said that Gibson is a pastor with Pathway 2 Hope Ministries, which is on Parklane Road in Columbia.
“Pathway 2 Hope Ministries exists to be the hands and feet of Christ, offering holistic restoration to individuals and families impacted by incarceration, homelessness, and addiction,” the church’s website says. “Our goal is to break the cycle of brokenness by addressing the spiritual, physical, and financial needs of those we serve.”
Young owns and operates daycare facility DreamCatcher Child Development Center, which has locations on Legrand Road and Hardscrabble Road in Columbia.
“Our goal is to create an atmosphere of respect and loyalty that meets the needs of each family,” the daycare’s website says. “We take pride in providing quality childcare in a loving, home-away-from-home environment.”
Because of their positions at the church and daycare, Gibson and Young have been in proximity to other children, according to the release. The sheriff’s department asks anyone who has information about other victims of Gibson and Young to report it by calling 911, CrimeStoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC, or submitting an online tip.
Gibson and Young are the parents of 12 children and grandparents to 12 more, according to the church’s website.
While the sheriff’s department said Young was Gibson’s wife, DSS said Young reported not being married, saying she was not in a relationship, on her foster home license. There was no mention of Gibson living in the foster home, and his name was not on the foster parent license, DSS officials said.
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This story was originally published April 6, 2026 at 3:01 PM.
