In Oklahoma City, a former Texas megachurch pastor faced with allegations of child sexual abuse turned himself in to authorities. Robert Preston Morris, aged 63, handed himself over to officials in Osage County after being charged with five counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child the previous week, as noted by a spokesperson for the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office.
According to court documents, an Osage County judge established a bond of $50,000 and required that Morris surrender his passport. Morris is scheduled for his first court appearance at 10 a.m. on May 9.
Attorney Mack Martin, while responding to the charges, reserved comments but indicated intentions to enter a plea of not guilty for Morris.
Last year, Morris stepped down from his position as pastor at Gateway Church in Southlake, a suburb of Dallas, following accusations by a woman regarding his alleged sexual misconduct dating back to the 1980s.
The woman, identified as C.C. in the indictment, informed authorities that the abuse began when she was 12 years old and described Morris as a traveling evangelist who was staying with her family in Hominy, Oklahoma. The Attorney General’s office reported that the abusive incidents continued over a period of four years.
Cindy Clemishire, the individual accusing Morris, released a statement expressing her gratitude to law enforcement for their efforts in pursuing the indictment and expressed hope for justice. Clemishire, now 55, emphasized, “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.”
Although the Associated Press traditionally withholds the names of sexual assault victims, Clemishire expressed her desire to be identified publicly.
Beyond his pastoral role, Morris was noted for his political engagement, notably hosting an event with then-President Donald Trump in 2020 on the topics of race relations and the economy at the church’s Dallas location.
If convicted, Morris could face a maximum of 20 years in prison for each of the five charges he faces.