- Robert Morris, a former Texas megachurch leader, has been indicted in Oklahoma on five counts of child sex crimes dating back to the 1980s. This followed accusations from Cindy Clemishire, who alleged she was abused starting in 1982.
- Morris resigned from Gateway Church in 2024 after Clemishire publicly accused him, and it was revealed that church leaders had knowledge of the abuse but did nothing.
- The former pastor faces up to 20 years in prison per charge.
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The founder of a Texas megachurch who resigned last year amid sexual abuse allegations has been indicted in Oklahoma on child sex crime charges dating back to the early 1980s. Robert Morris now faces five counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child.
Last year, Cindy Clemishire publicly accused Morris of sexually abusing her starting in 1982, when she was 12 years old and Morris was in his early 20s.
At the time, Morris was a traveling evangelist in Oklahoma who had become close to her family.
Days after Clemishire’s allegations, Morris resigned from his position at Dallas-based Gateway Church.
What did Clemishire say about coming forward?
Clemishire told The Dallas Morning Post in October 2024 that it took her years to realize what had happened to her was abuse and a crime.
In 2014, Morris admitted in a sermon he was “sexually immoral” as a young man.
In a statement on Wednesday, March 12, Clemishire spoke out.
“After almost 43 years, the law has finally caught up with Robert Morris for the horrific crimes he committed against me,” she said in the statement. “My family and I are deeply grateful to the authorities who have worked tirelessly to make this day possible and remain hopeful that justice will ultimately prevail.”
What did Gateway Church say about the indictment?
Gateway Church released a statement Wednesday.
“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. We continue to pray for Cindy Clemishire and her family, for the members and staff of Gateway Church, and for all of those impacted by this terrible situation.”
Gateway Church
Last year, an investigation revealed that several people at Gateway Church knew about the abuse allegation against Morris but didn’t do anything about it.
As a result, four leaders in the church were fired.
Morris could face up to 20 years in prison for each of the five charges.
His lawyers have not commented on the indictment.
Morris’ ties to Trump
Morris gained political notoriety over the last 10 years, having served on a faith advisory council during President Donald Trump’s first term and hosted Trump at Gateway Church in June 2020.
A spokesperson for Trump said in 2024 that Morris had not played a role in his 2024 presidential campaign.
