Robert Morris, the former pastor of Gateway Church, surrendered to authorities in Osage County, Oklahoma, on Monday after being indicted on five counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child. The charges stem from accusations that Morris, 63, sexually abused a girl over a four-year period in the 1980s.
Phil Bacharach, spokesperson for the Oklahoma Attorney General's Office, confirmed that Morris turned himself in and was booked into the Osage County Jail early Monday morning. A judge set Morris' bond at $50,000 and ordered him to surrender his passport. He is scheduled to appear before a judge on May 9.
Attorney Mack Martin, representing Morris, declined to comment on the charges but stated he expects to enter a not guilty plea on his client's behalf.
The indictment follows allegations from Cindy Clemishire, who accused Morris of sexually abusing her beginning in December 1982 when she was 12 years old. Clemishire stated the abuse continued over the next four years while Morris, then a traveling evangelist, stayed with her family in Hominy, Oklahoma.
"After almost 43 years, the law has finally caught up with Robert Morris for the horrific crimes he committed against me as a child," Clemishire said in a statement. "Now, it is time for the legal system to hold him accountable."
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond called the charges particularly egregious given Morris' position of religious authority. "There can be no tolerance for those who sexually prey on children," Drummond said. "This case is all the more despicable because the alleged perpetrator was a pastor who exploited his position."
Court records show that the statute of limitations does not apply in this case, as Morris was never a resident of Oklahoma.
Morris founded Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas, with his wife Debbie in 2000. Under his leadership, the megachurch grew to include multiple campuses across North Texas and became known for its influence in political and religious circles. Gateway Church hosted President Donald Trump in 2020 during a Dallas event focused on race relations and the economy.
Morris resigned from his position at Gateway Church last year after Clemishire's allegations became public. Following his departure, several other senior staff members, including his son James Morris, also stepped down.
In addition to the criminal charges, Gateway Church underwent internal restructuring. After an investigation led to the dismissal of multiple elders, the church announced it would appoint four new elders to oversee governance.
If convicted, Morris faces up to 20 years in prison for each of the five counts filed against him, according to the Oklahoma Attorney General's Office.
