Robert Morris, Gateway Church founding pastor, pleads guilty in Oklahoma child sexual abuse case

[ad_1] Robert Morris, founding pastor of Gateway Church — a Texas-based megachurch with one of many largest congregations within the nation — pleaded responsible Thursday to fees of indecent conduct with a toddler. The fees stem from an investigation into allegations that he sexually abused a younger lady in Oklahoma greater than 40 years in the past.

The plea was entered throughout a scheduled listening to in Osage County. Afterwards, Morris was sentenced to 10 years in jail, with all however six months suspended. He'll serve his time in Osage County after which be positioned on probation for 9 and a half years in Texas and is required to register as a intercourse offender.

He may also need to pay Clemishire $270,000 in restitution.

Because the afternoon started, Morris entered the courthouse in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, flanked by his spouse, his grownup youngsters, and several other of their spouses. After the listening to ended, he took time to hug relations, earlier than being escorted out of the courtroom in handcuffs.

Gateway Church declined to touch upon Morris' responsible plea.

Survivor responds to plea In a press release, Cindy Clemishire, who was 12 when the abuse towards her started, stated she hopes her case will function an inspiration for others.

"At this time justice has lastly been served, and the person who manipulated, groomed, and abused me as a 12-year-old harmless lady is lastly going to be behind bars," Clemishire stated. "My hope is that many victims hear my story, and it will possibly assist carry their disgrace and permit them to talk up. I hope that legal guidelines proceed to vary and new ones are written so youngsters and victims' rights are higher protected. I hope that individuals perceive the one approach to cease little one sexual abuse is to talk up when it occurs or is suspected."

Attorneys say Morris expresses regret, accountability In a post-sentencing assertion, his attorneys stated Morris accepted accountability earlier than God, noticed Gateway Church as a part of his non secular repentance, and pleaded responsible to carry closure for himself, his household, and Clemishire's household. He requested his attorneys to apologize to Clemishire and her household, and thanked mates, household, and Gateway Church members for his or her assist and forgiveness.

His attorneys affirmed his regret and sincerity.

"He sincerely hopes that his plea and jail sentence coupled with probation brings Ms. Clemishire and her household the finality that they could want," the assertion stated. "... He's at peace together with his sentence and, in an odd means, seems to be ahead to fulfilling this penance, specifically going to jail for his previous sin and crime."

Lawmaker, AG condemn Morris' abuse Texas state Rep. Jeff Leach, who authored the Texas Home model of the brand new state legislation banning non-disclosure agreements in circumstances of kid sexual abuse, was within the courtroom when Morris entered his plea.

"At this time I noticed a real-life superhero conquer an evil villain," Leach stated. "After at this time, Cindy Clemishire is free. And Robert Morris, her abuser, shouldn't be. And he by no means might be once more. Going ahead, we should do all we are able to to assist abuse victims like Cindy, who had her childhood robbed from her and has needed to dwell with disgrace and ache for many years earlier than lastly seeing justice prevail at this time."

Oklahoma Lawyer Common Gentner Drummond stated this present day was lengthy in coming.

"There will be no tolerance for individuals who sexually prey on youngsters," Drummond stated. "This case is all of the extra despicable as a result of the perpetrator was a pastor who exploited his place of belief and authority. The sufferer has waited far too a few years for this present day."

The case towards Robert Morris In line with the Oklahoma lawyer common's workplace, the abuse started in 1982. On the time, Morris was a touring evangelist staying together with her household in Hominy, Oklahoma. The abuse continued for 4 years, Clemishire has stated.

Morris had acknowledged in a 2014 sermon that he was "sexually immoral" as a younger man and later admitted to an inappropriate relationship with a younger girl. Nonetheless, he by no means publicly revealed Clemishire's age on the time.

Fallout from the Robert Morris case When the allegations surfaced in 2024, Southlake-based Gateway Church initially denied that Morris had engaged in sexual relations with a minor. Church elders later reversed course, and Morris resigned on June 18, 2024.

Clemishire later stated she believed she was not the one sufferer.

"Although I'm grateful that he's not a pastor at Gateway, I'm dissatisfied that the Board of Elders allowed him to resign," she wrote in a press release on the time. "He ought to have been terminated."

The fallout has prolonged far past the legal case.

Clemishire and her father filed a civil lawsuit towards Morris, his spouse Debbie, Gateway Church, and several other present and former church leaders in search of $1 million in civil damages . The lawsuit alleged the defendants knew about Morris' actions, hid them, and profited from his "ethical failures and rape of Plaintiff, Cindy Clemishire."

Robert Morris sues Gateway Church Morris and Gateway are additionally entangled in a separate authorized dispute over tens of millions of {dollars} Morris claims he's owed from his retirement bundle .

In Sherman, a federal class-action lawsuit filed by former members accuses Gateway and Morris of failing to honor guarantees to present 15% of donations to international missions and deceptive congregants with false assurances of refunds.

The church has additionally suffered financially within the wake of the scandal.

Earlier this 12 months, Gateway laid off workers members amid declining tithes . In September, the church put in new lead pastor Daniel Floyd , who pledged to steer Gateway "with integrity."