Former Texas megachurch pastor indicted on child sexual abuse charges in Oklahoma

A former Texas megachurch pastor, Robert Preston Morris, has been indicted in Oklahoma on charges of child sexual abuse, decades after the alleged crimes took place. The Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office announced Wednesday that Morris, 63, faces five counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child.

The allegations stem from incidents that reportedly began in 1982 when the victim, identified in the indictment as C.C., was 12 years old. At the time, Morris was a traveling evangelist staying with her family in Hominy, Oklahoma. The abuse is said to have continued for four years.

Cindy Clemishire, the accuser, expressed gratitude for the legal action taken against Morris. “After almost 43 years, the law has finally caught up with Robert Morris for the horrific crimes he committed against me as a child,” said Clemishire, now 55. “Now, it is time for the legal system to hold him accountable.” Clemishire chose to have her name included in public reports, breaking the silence surrounding her case.

Attempts to reach Morris for comment were unsuccessful, as phone numbers associated with him were either disconnected or went unanswered. It remains unclear whether he has retained legal representation.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond emphasized the severity of the case. “There can be no tolerance for those who sexually prey on children,” Drummond stated. “This case is all the more despicable because the alleged perpetrator was a pastor who exploited his position. The victim in this case has waited far too many years for justice to be done.”

Morris was the founding pastor of Gateway Church, a prominent megachurch based in Southlake, Texas, a suburb of Dallas. The church issued a statement acknowledging the legal proceedings and offering support for Clemishire and others affected. “We are aware of the actions being taken by the legal authorities in Oklahoma and are grateful for the work of the justice system in holding abusers accountable for their actions,” the statement read.

Morris resigned from his position at Gateway Church last year following the emergence of abuse allegations on the religious watchdog blog The Wartburg Watch. According to Clemishire, she first met Morris in 1981 when he began preaching at her family’s church. Over time, he became close to her family, staying at their home when the abuse allegedly began.

Gateway Church, which has multiple locations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, is one of the largest churches in the United States. Morris was known for his political engagement, having hosted then-President Donald Trump at the church’s Dallas campus in 2020 for a discussion on race relations and the economy.

If convicted, Morris could face up to 20 years in prison for each of the five charges. As of Wednesday, he had not yet been taken into custody.