Texas Megachurch Pastor Pleads Guilty to Child Sex Abuse
Key Takeaways
- Robert Morris, founder of Gateway Church, pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a girl in the 1980s.
- Morris received a 10-year suspended sentence, six months in jail, and must pay $270,000 in restitution.
- The victim, Cindy Clemishire, described the profound, decades-long impact of the abuse during the sentencing hearing.
- Morris resigned as senior pastor last year after Ms. Clemishire publicly made her accusations.
- Morris was a prominent religious figure who previously advised President Trump.
Robert Morris, the founder of the prominent Texas megachurch Gateway Church, pleaded guilty to sexually abusing Cindy Clemishire, who was 12 years old when the abuse started in 1982.
The abuse, which involved touching her private parts on multiple occasions, continued until she was 14, according to prosecutors.
Morris, 64, resigned from his senior pastor role last year after Ms. Clemishire publicly accused him, leading to his indictment in March on five counts of lewd acts.
As part of a plea agreement in Oklahoma, Morris received a 10-year suspended sentence, mandated six months in the Osage County Jail, and must pay $270,000 in restitution.
During the hearing, Ms. Clemishire bravely stated she was a survivor, detailing how the abuse affected her understanding of love, while Morris remained silent and did not look at her.
Morris, who founded Gateway Church in 2000 and previously served on a faith advisory council for President Trump, was led out of court in handcuffs after accepting responsibility under the law.
