The founder of one of Texas’ largest megachurches pleaded guilty Thursday to child sex abuse charges stemming from crimes committed in Oklahoma more than four decades ago.
Robert Preston Morris, 64, admitted to five counts of lewd and indecent acts with a child before an Osage County judge. The plea follows his indictment earlier this year by an Oklahoma grand jury. Under the agreement, Morris received a 10-year suspended sentence, with six months to be served in the county jail.
Authorities said the abuse began in 1982 when Morris, then a traveling evangelist, stayed with a family in Hominy, Oklahoma. The victim was 12 years old at the time. According to the Oklahoma attorney general’s office, the abuse continued for four years.
Morris resigned last year as senior pastor of Gateway Church, a megachurch he founded in 2000 in Southlake, Texas, near Dallas-Fort Worth. The congregation grew to more than 100,000 members across multiple campuses, making it one of the largest churches in the United States.
As part of the plea deal, Morris will be required to register as a sex offender and will remain under supervision by Texas authorities through an interstate compact. He also must pay restitution to the victim, as well as the costs of his incarceration and related medical expenses.
The victim, Cindy Clemishire, who is now 55, publicly identified herself and issued a statement welcoming the outcome. She said the guilty plea represented accountability after decades of silence and expressed hope that her case would encourage other survivors to speak out. Clemishire urged lawmakers to strengthen protections for children and emphasized the importance of breaking the culture of silence surrounding sexual abuse.
Prosecutors described Morris’ actions as an egregious violation of trust, noting that he used his position as a pastor to manipulate and exploit a child. Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond said the case was particularly troubling because of the power imbalance inherent in the relationship.
Morris appeared in court wearing a suit and was escorted out in handcuffs by deputies after entering his plea. His attorney, Bill Mateja, said Morris wanted to accept legal responsibility and apologize to the victim and her family. Mateja added that his client believed he had already made spiritual amends but now recognized the need for accountability under the law.
In past statements, Morris acknowledged what he called “inappropriate sexual behavior” with the girl when he was in his early twenties, describing it as kissing and touching but denying intercourse. He characterized the conduct as wrong but did not initially frame it as criminal abuse.
Gateway Church has declined to comment on the guilty plea. The institution, long known for its influence within evangelical circles and for hosting political figures including former President Donald Trump, has faced turmoil since Morris’ resignation. Attendance reportedly declined after the allegations became public, raising questions about the church’s future leadership and credibility.
