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Photo: An event at Gateway Church’s Southlake, Texas Campus near Dallas; via Wikipedia.
Robert Morris, the Texas megachurch pastor who built Gateway Church into one of the nation’s largest congregations, pleaded guilty Thursday in Oklahoma’s Osage County District Court to sexually abusing a girl in the 1980s, NBC News reported yesterday.
Morris, 64, admitted to five felony counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child before Judge Cindy Pickerill. Under a negotiated agreement, he received a 10-year sentence, with only six months to be served in the county jail. He must also register as a sex offender and pay $250,000 in restitution. Morris was handcuffed and taken into custody following the hearing.
Cindy Clemishire, who accused Morris of molesting her at age 12, sat in the courtroom surrounded by family as he pleaded guilty. She said the moment was one she had sought for decades.
The plea marked a stunning downfall for Morris, who founded Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas, in 2000 and grew it into a congregation with tens of thousands of weekly attendees. His sermons were broadcast around the world, his books became evangelical bestsellers, and he served as a faith adviser to President Donald Trump. That career ended in June 2024 when Clemishire publicly accused him of sexual abuse. Within days, Gateway announced his resignation.
Clemishire told NBC News the abuse began on Christmas night in 1982 when she was 12 years old. She said Morris invited her into his room and touched her inappropriately, warning her never to tell anyone. She said the abuse continued over several years. She revealed the truth to her parents and church leaders in 1987, but no police report was filed. Morris later returned to ministry after what he described as a “restoration process.”
In the mid-2000s, after Morris had become a prominent pastor, Clemishire sought restitution from him and Gateway Church. Records show Morris offered her $25,000 but only in exchange for signing a nondisclosure agreement, which she refused.
After decades of silence, Clemishire went public in 2024 on a blog that exposes abuse in churches. Her disclosure prompted an investigation by the Oklahoma attorney general’s office. A grand jury indicted Morris in March 2025 on five felony counts.
In court Thursday, Clemishire addressed Morris directly. “Let me be clear,” she said. “There is no such thing as consent from a 12-year-old child. We were never in an ‘inappropriate relationship.’ I was not a ‘young lady’ but a child. You committed a crime against me.” Her father wept quietly as she spoke. Her sister also testified, saying the abuse shattered their family.
As deputies led him away in handcuffs, Morris turned to his wife and children and said, “Love y’all.”
The case has reverberated far beyond Oklahoma. Gateway Church confirmed that four elders were removed last year after an investigation found they knew about Clemishire’s allegations but did not act. Morris has also filed a lawsuit seeking millions in retirement benefits, which Gateway is contesting.
Advocates say Clemishire’s case demonstrates how even decades-old allegations can be prosecuted and underscores the importance of eliminating statutes of limitation in cases of child sexual abuse. Since going public, Clemishire has heard from other survivors nationwide who said they were abused by trusted religious leaders.
After the guilty plea, Clemishire said she finally felt relief. “This was 40 years in the making,” she said. “Robert, I want you to see me clearly: I am no longer the silenced little girl you abused.”
Why Only Six Months Behind Bars?
Although Robert Morris pleaded guilty to five felony counts, his sentence allows him to serve only six months in the county jail. This outcome stems from a negotiated plea agreement between his defense and prosecutors. Such arrangements often occur to avoid the trauma of a lengthy trial, secure a guaranteed conviction, and balance the challenges of prosecuting decades-old cases.
Legal analysts note that under Oklahoma law at the time of the abuse, lewd or indecent acts with a child carried a sentencing range of 1 to 20 years. Given the passage of time, the lack of physical evidence, and Morris’ agreement to admit guilt, prosecutors may have accepted a shorter custodial sentence as part of the plea. While the punishment has drawn scrutiny, it ensured Morris was held criminally accountable, something his accuser had sought for over 40 years.
Are You A Survivor Of Institutional Sexual Abuse? Justice & Compensation May Still Be Possible.
Even if the abuse happened decades ago, it’s never too late to find out if you may have a legal case. Survivors are filing lawsuits against churches, schools, and other institutions across the country, even when abusers are deceased or institutions have filed for bankruptcy. Visit our Institutional Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Guide to learn how justice and compensation may still be possible.
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