Texas megachurch founder Robert Morris pleads guilty to child sex abuse charges
The former founder of a Texas megachurch who stepped down last year following allegations of sexual abuse has pleaded guilty to five counts of lewd and indecent acts with a child. Robert Preston Morris, 64, entered the pleas in Oklahoma’s Osage County as part of a plea agreement.
The abuse began in 1982 when the victim was 12 years old and Morris was a traveling evangelist staying with her family in Hominy, Oklahoma. The abuse continued for the next four years. Morris was the senior pastor of Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas, one of the nation’s largest megachurches until his resignation. He was indicted earlier this year by an Oklahoma grand jury.
Under the plea agreement, Morris received a 10-year suspended sentence with the first six months to be served in the Osage County Jail. He must also register as a sex offender and will be supervised by Texas authorities. Morris was handcuffed and escorted out of court by sheriff’s deputies.
The victim, Cindy Clemishire, who is now 55, expressed relief that justice has been served. She hopes that sharing her story will encourage other victims to speak up and that laws will be strengthened to protect children and victims of abuse.
Morris apologized to Clemishire and her family through his attorney, Bill Mateja, and expressed a desire to take responsibility for his actions. He acknowledged his wrongdoing and wanted to bring closure to the legal matter for the sake of both families.
In a statement last year to The Christian Post, Morris admitted to inappropriate sexual behavior with a young lady when he was in his early 20s. Gateway Church, founded by Morris in 2000, has been politically active and has hosted events with prominent figures such as President Donald Trump.
The church declined to comment on the recent developments. The pleas were entered before Osage County District Special Judge Cindy Pickerill. Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond emphasized the importance of holding perpetrators of child sexual abuse accountable, especially those in positions of trust like Morris.
Overall, the guilty pleas mark a significant step towards justice for the victim and serve as a reminder of the importance of protecting children from abuse.
