DALLAS — A former pastor known for his association with a Texas megachurch has been indicted on charges of child sexual abuse in Oklahoma. The indictment follows allegations that Robert Preston Morris, now 63, sexually abused a young girl in the 1980s. Morris has been formally charged with five counts of committing lewd or indecent acts with a minor. The charges stem from reported incidents beginning in 1982 when the victim, identified in court documents as C.C., was 12 years old. At the time, Morris was working as a traveling evangelist and staying with the girl’s family in Hominy, Oklahoma. The abuse is alleged to have lasted four years.
The victim, Cindy Clemishire, expressed gratitude toward those responsible for making the charges possible and expressed optimism for justice. “After nearly 43 years, justice is finally catching up with Robert Morris for the horror inflicted upon me as a child,” said Clemishire, who is now 55 years old. She added, “It’s time the legal system holds him accountable.” Typically, individuals alleging sexual assault remain unnamed, but Clemishire has chosen to speak publicly.
Efforts to reach Morris for comment were unsuccessful due to disconnected phone lines, and it remains unclear if he has legal representation. The Oklahoma Attorney General, Gentner Drummond, made a statement describing the case as especially egregious due to Morris’s position as a pastor. “This case is especially disturbing, as the alleged perpetrator was a trusted spiritual leader,” Drummond said. “The victim has awaited justice for far too long.”
Gateway Church, founded by Morris in 2000 in Southlake, near Dallas, issued a statement offering prayers and support to all affected, including Clemishire. The church also expressed appreciation for the work of the legal system in holding abusers accountable. Allegations concerning Morris originally surfaced on a religious watchdog blog, prompting Morris to resign from the church last year.
In her account to The Dallas Morning News, Clemishire recalled meeting Morris in 1981 when he was a new preacher visiting her family’s church in Oklahoma. Her relationship with Morris grew as he and his family became close to hers, culminating in him staying at their home in 1982, when the abuse is said to have commenced.
The church, which has several branches in the area, ranks among the United States’ largest churches. Notably, Morris was involved in political activities, including hosting President Donald Trump for discussions on race relations and the economy in 2020. According to the attorney general’s office, Morris faces the prospect of up to 20 years in prison per charge, but he remained free as of Wednesday.
