The abuse allegedly took place in the 1980s
Warning: This article contains discussion of child abuse which some readers may find distressing.
A Texas megachurch founder has been indicted for indecent acts he committed in the 1980s.
Former Megachurch Pastor Indicted on Child Abuse Charges
Robert Preston Morris, the disgraced founder and former senior pastor of Gateway Church, is now facing serious legal repercussions following his admission of “inappropriate sexual behavior” with a child in the 1980s.
On Wednesday, March 12, the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office announced that a Multi-County Grand Jury has formally indicted the 63-year-old pastor on five counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child.
A Fall from Grace
Morris, once a highly respected spiritual leader in Texas, abruptly resigned last year after publicly acknowledging his past misconduct. However, what was once a shocking confession has now escalated into criminal charges, as authorities dig deeper into his history.
Official Statement from the Attorney General’s Office
“The **Multi-County Grand Jury today indicted the founder of a Texas megachurch on five counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child stemming from incidents that date back to the 1980s.”
The legal process is now underway, with Morris potentially facing a severe reckoning for his past actions. The indictment sends a strong message that no one is above the law, regardless of their influence or religious standing.
In December 1982, Morris, a traveling evangelist, visited Hominy, staying with the family of a 12-year-old girl, who was allegedly abused by him while he was 21. The indictment claims that Morris’s sexual misconduct began that Christmas and persisted for the next four years.
These new charges follow Morris stepping down from his position in a Texas megachurch after accusations from Cindy Clemishire, who revealed that Morris had abused her when she was a child. Clemishire told NBC last year that Morris had warned her, saying, “Never tell anyone about this. It will ruin everything.”
When Morris addressed the allegations, he admitted to “inappropriate sexual behavior with a young lady in a home where I was staying” in an interview with the Christian Post. He described the acts as “kissing and petting,” stopping short of intercourse, but still acknowledging they were wrong.
Just three days after this admission, Morris resigned from his position. The church’s Board of Elders later revealed that they were unaware of the girl’s age or the duration of the alleged abuse. In a statement, the Board clarified that their understanding of Morris’s extramarital relationship had always been that it involved “a young lady,” not the abuse of a 12-year-old child.
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond also weighed in on the case, stating, “There can be no tolerance for those who sexually prey on children. This case is all the more despicable because the alleged perpetrator was a pastor who exploited his position. The victim has waited far too many years for justice to be served.”
In response to the charges against Morris, Clemishire issued her own statement, saying, “After almost 43 years, the law has finally caught up with Robert Morris for the horrific crimes he committed against me as a child. Now, it is time for the legal system to hold him accountable.”
A spokesperson for the Attorney General’s office confirmed that while Morris was not in custody as of Wednesday, they were in discussions with his legal team to ensure he surrenders to authorities.
