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Robert Preston Morris, founder and longtime senior pastor of Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas, has pleaded guilty to five felony counts of lewd and indecent acts with a child. The plea was entered in Osage County, Oklahoma, concluding a high-profile case that centers on abuse allegations dating back more than four decades.
According to prosecutors, the abuse began in December 1982 when Morris, then a traveling evangelist aged 21, stayed with the family of a 12-year-old girl in Hominy, Oklahoma. Over the next four years, he is accused of repeatedly committing unlawful sexual acts against the minor. The accuser, Cindy Clemishire, has publicly identified herself and addressed the court, recounting her experience and expressing that the legal resolution is a step toward accountability.
Under terms of the plea agreement, Morris was sentenced to 10 years, but only six months will be served in county jail, the remaining term is suspended, with conditions of probation. He also must register as a sex offender, pay restitution and incarceration costs and abide by court oversight.
The Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office has stated that the statute of limitations does not apply in this case, because Morris was not a resident or inhabitant of Oklahoma when the alleged offenses occurred. Some counts carry penalties of up to 20 years of imprisonment under state law.
Morris resigned from his pastoral leadership at Gateway Church in 2024 following public allegations from Clemishire. In previous statements, he admitted to “inappropriate sexual behavior” in his early 20s but had described those actions only as a “moral failure,” denying that intercourse took place. Clemishire’s revelations reignited scrutiny and led to the Oklahoma grand jury indictment in March 2025.
Clemishire and her father have filed a lawsuit naming Morris, his family and leaders at Gateway Church, accusing them of concealing the misconduct, defamation, negligent oversight and unjust enrichment.
Gateway Church itself has issued limited statements, noting that it is aware of the legal proceedings and affirming its prayers for those affected. Meanwhile, the conviction marks a dramatic fall from grace for Morris, whose ministry once drew tens of thousands weekly and whose influence extended into political and religious circles.
