OKLAHOMA CITY — A multi-county Grand Jury has indicted the founder of a Texas megachurch on five counts of lewd or indecent behavior with a minor.
The case dates from the 1980s.
Robert Preston Morris resigned as senior pastor of Gateway Church, one of the country’s largest megachurches, in the summer of 2024.
Morris visited Hominy in 1982 with the family of the alleged 12-year-old victim.
According to court documents, Morris’ sexual misconduct began that Christmas and continued for four years.
“There can be no tolerance for those who sexually prey on children,” Attorney General Gentner Drummond declared. “This case is all the more heinous because the alleged perpetrator was a pastor who abused his position. The victim in this case has waited far too long for justice to be served.”
The Attorney General claims the statute of limitations does not apply in this case because Morris was not a resident of Oklahoma.
Cindy Clemishire made her accusations known last year.
Morris later admitted to inappropriate sexual behavior, saying he “confessed and repented” years ago.
“Part of the timing is right now because the discussion around these topics has been a lot more open over the last decade, and people are tired of seeing children hurt,” Cindy Clemishire said in an interview last year.
This is what Clemishire said last year, prompting Morris to step down as senior pastor of Gateway Church.
Gateway Church leaders initially claimed they were aware of Morris’ “moral failure,” but later admitted they were unaware Clemishire was a child at the time.
For two decades, Clemishire blamed herself.
In 2007, she hired an attorney named Gentner Drummond and threatened to sue.
According to NBC News, Morris’ lawyer blamed a 12-year-old Clemishire, telling Drummond, “It was your client who initiated inappropriate behavior by coming into my client’s bedroom and getting in bed with him.”
His lawyer even cited a biblical passage to argue that suing other Christians was immoral, but the legal battle ended with no resolution.
“I think it’s very painful for people in the church to know that such a large name, big, you know, leader was responsible for it,” Clemishire told reporters.
Now, nearly two decades later, Clemishire believes she is gaining closure.
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. 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.
Cindy Clemishire
We did reach out to Morris’ attorney and Gateway Church, but have not heard back.
The AG’s office says it is unlikely Morris will be extradited to Oklahoma anytime soon because no court dates have been set.
