Oklahoma files charges of child sexual abuse against previous Texan megachurch pastor
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A one-time Texas megachurch pastor, who stepped down after a woman claimed he sexually assaulted her in the '80s, has been indicted in Oklahoma on child sexual abuse charges, the state's attorney general's office revealed Wednesday.
Robert Preston Morris, 63, now faces five charges of lewd or indecent acts with a minor.
The alleged abuse reportedly began in 1982 when the victim, identified as C.C. in the indictment, was just 12 years old. At the time, Morris was a traveling evangelist residing with her family in Hominy, Oklahoma. The abuse is said to have continued for a staggering four years, according to the attorney general's office.
victim Cindy Clemishire, who accused Morris, expressed her gratitude towards the authorities involved and expressed hope that "justice will eventually prevail."
"After almost 43 years, the law has finally caught up with Robert Morris for the heinous crimes he committed against me as a child," said Clemishire, now 55. "It's time for the legal system to bring him to justice."
Traditionally, The Associated Press does not disclose the identities of those who allege sexual assault. However, Clemishire has requested her name be included in this case.
Efforts to reach Morris on Wednesday were unsuccessful, as calls to his listed phone numbers were met with either disconnections or unreturned messages. It remains unclear whether he has legal representation.
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond stated, "There is absolutely no place for those who prey on children in our society. This case is particularly appalling due to the fact that the alleged perpetrator was a pastor who abused his position of trust."
The Gateway Church, founded by Morris in 2000 and located in the Dallas suburb of Southlake, released a statement expressing prayers for Clemishire and all those affected by this situation.
"We are aware of the legal actions being taken in Oklahoma and are grateful for the work of the justice system in bringing abusers to account," the statement read.
Morris resigned from the church after allegations surfaced last year on the religious watchdog blog The Wartburg Watch.
In an interview with The Dallas Morning News last year, Clemishire recounted her encounter with Morris, who was a traveling preacher at the time. She stated that the abuse began while he was staying at her house in 1982.
The church operates multiple locations and is counted among the largest in the U.S., according to the attorney general's office.
Morris was politically active and hosted President Donald Trump on the church's Dallas campus in 2020 for a discussion on race relations and the economy.
Each count against Morris carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years, according to the attorney general's office. He was not in custody as of Wednesday's announcement.
- Cindy Clemishire, who previously accused Morris of sexual assault, expressed her gratitude towards the Oklahoma authorities for indicting him on child sexual abuse charges.
- The indictment against Robert Preston Morris, the former Texas megachurch pastor, includes five counts of lewd or indecent acts with a minor, which allegedly occurred when Cindy Clemishire was 12 years old.
- The Gateway Church, founded by Morris, has expressed prayers for Cindy Clemishire and all those affected by this situation, but it remains unclear if Morris will receive a fair trial, given the gravity of the allegations against him.
