Former Megachurch Pastor Robert Morris Surrenders on Child Sexual Abuse Charges

The 63-year-old ex-Gateway Church leader faces five felony counts for alleged abuse of a 12-year-old girl in the 1980s.

Robert Morris, founder and former senior pastor of Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas, turned himself into an Oklahoma jail after being indicted on five felony charges of lewd or indecent acts with a child.
The charges stem from allegations by Cindy Clemishire, who accused Morris of sexually abusing her starting in 1982 when she was 12 years old, with the abuse reportedly continuing for four years.
Morris resigned from his role at Gateway Church in June 2024 after Clemishire's allegations became public, and the church has since distanced itself from him and several of its leadership members.
The alleged victim, now 55, expressed gratitude to authorities for pursuing the case and hopes for accountability after nearly 43 years since the abuse occurred.
If convicted, Morris could face up to 20 years in prison for each of the five charges filed against him.