The ex-founder of a prominent Texas megachurch, who stepped down last year following allegations of sexual abuse from a woman in Oklahoma, pleaded guilty on Thursday to five counts of lewd acts involving a minor, according to state authorities.
Robert Preston Morris, 64, entered his pleas during a hearing in Osage County, Oklahoma, as part of a plea bargain, as reported by the state attorney general’s office.
According to Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond, the abusive incidents began in 1982 when the victim was just 12 years old, during a time when Morris was a traveling evangelist staying with her family in Hominy, Oklahoma.
The incidents reportedly continued for four years after the initial abuse, the statement indicated.
Morris was the lead pastor at Gateway Church, one of the largest megachurches in the country, located in Southlake, Texas, until he resigned following these serious allegations. He was indicted earlier in the year by a grand jury in Oklahoma.
As part of the plea deal, Morris was sentenced to a 10-year suspended sentence, with the first six months to be spent in the Osage County Jail.
On Thursday, Morris was seen in handcuffs and a suit as he was escorted from the courtroom by sheriff’s deputies.
The victim, now 55 and identified as Cindy Clemishire, expressed in a statement, “Justice has finally prevailed, and the man who exploited, manipulated, and abused me when I was just a young girl will finally serve time.”
The Associated Press generally does not identify individuals who allege sexual abuse unless they choose to go public, as Clemishire has done.
She added, “It is my hope that my story gives strength to many survivors and encourages them to find their voice.”
“My wish is for laws to evolve and for better protections for children and victims’ rights,” she stated. “The only way to combat child sexual abuse is by speaking up when it occurs or when there’s suspicion.”
As part of his sentencing, Morris must register as a sex offender and will be monitored by Texas law enforcement through an interstate compact. He is also required to cover his own costs for incarceration and any related medical expenses, as well as provide restitution to Clemishire.
Bill Mateja, one of Morris’s attorneys, stated that Morris wished to take accountability for his actions, aiming to bring closure to the legal proceedings for all involved.
“He feels he has accepted responsibility before God and that Gateway Church was a reflection of that, but he also acknowledges his legal accountability,” Mateja remarked.
Morris expressed a desire to apologize personally to Clemishire and her family for his actions and sought their forgiveness.
In a previous statement to The Christian Post, Morris acknowledged engaging in “inappropriate sexual behavior” in his early twenties, indicating it involved “kissing and petting,” while asserting it was wrong, though he minimized the nature of the actions.
Gateway Church was established by Morris in 2000 and he was known for his political involvement, including a role on former President Donald Trump’s evangelical advisory board.
The church had hosted Trump for a discussion on race relations and the economy in 2020 at its Dallas location.
Gateway Church declined to provide any commentary on the recent developments.
The pleas were formally entered before Osage County District Special Judge Cindy Pickerill.
Drummond commented on the matter, stating, “There can be no tolerance for those who prey on children. This case is particularly horrific given that the offender was a pastor who abused his position of trust. The victim has waited far too long for this day to come.”
