Former Texas Megachurch Pastor Robert Morris Pleads Guilty to Child Sex Abuse
Robert Preston Morris, the founding pastor of Gateway Church in Texas, entered a guilty plea on Thursday in Oklahoma to five felony counts of lewd and indecent acts with a child. The charges stem from abuse that began in 1982 when the victim, Cindy Clemishire, was 12 years old. Morris, now 64, admitted to the acts that unfolded during his time as a traveling evangelist in Oklahoma.
Under the terms of his plea agreement in Osage County, Oklahoma, Morris received a 10-year suspended sentence. He is required to serve six months in jail, register as a sex offender, and will be under probationary supervision in Texas for the remainder.
Details of the Abuse & the Timeline
The abuse occurred from 1982 through 1986, when Morris was working as a traveling minister. Clemishire says the abuse began in Hominy, Oklahoma, where Morris stayed with her family, and continued over several years.
After the accusations surfaced in 2024, Morris resigned from his leadership role at Gateway Church. In his earlier public comments, he described the misconduct as “inappropriate sexual behavior” and minimized it as behavior involving “kissing and petting, not intercourse.”
Reactions & Impact
Clemishire expressed relief that justice is finally being served. “Today justice has finally been served, and the man who manipulated, groomed and abused me … is finally going to be behind bars,” she said in a statement. She also voiced hope that her case might encourage other survivors to come forward.
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond described the case as especially appalling, noting the betrayal of trust by someone in a pastoral role. He stated that there must be zero tolerance for abuse by figures of authority.
Gateway Church, which Morris led until his resignation in 2024, declined to comment on the plea. Meanwhile, Morris’s attorney said he accepted responsibility under the law and will seek forgiveness from the victim and her family.
Broader Questions & Legacy
Though the criminal case reaches a close, significant questions linger: the adequacy of the sentence, accountability for institutional oversight, and how the church community will heal from the fallout. Some survivors’ advocates have criticized that a six-month jail term is too lenient given the severity and duration of the abuse.
Morris’s story is a stark reminder of the immense power dynamics in religious institutions and the long path that survivors must often walk before being heard. Clemishire’s willingness to persist through years of silence played a significant role in bringing this case to light.
