Oklahoma court records indicate that an arrest warrant has been issued for Gateway Church founder Robert Morris.
On Wednesday (March 12), an Oklahoma grand jury indicted Morris on five charges stemming from his alleged sexual abuse of 12-year-old Cindy Clemishire in the 1980s. Morris was 21 at the time of the alleged abuse.
Morris served as Gateway Church’s senior pastor for 24 years before resigning on June 18, 2024, after Clemishire’s allegations came to light. Morris had previously described his relationship with Clemishire as “inappropriate sexual behavior with a young lady” when he was in his 20s.
Morris has been married to Debbie for 44 years and has three children, all of whom are married. He has nine grandchildren.
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond informed The Dallas Morning News that he believes Morris will turn himself in to be arraigned by Monday.
According to Drummond, the statute of limitations for Morris’ alleged crimes never expired due to the fact that he was never a resident of the state.
2024 Oklahoma Statutes Title 22 Criminal Procedure §22-153 states:
If when the offense is committed the defendant be out of the state, the prosecution may be commenced within the term herein limited after his coming within the state, and no time during which the defendant is not an inhabitant of or usually resident within the state, is part of the limitation.
Drummond was involved in earlier negotiations between Morris’ counsel after Clemishire sought reimbursement for the cost of therapy that stemmed from Morris’ alleged sexual abuse.
RELATED: Gateway Church Learned of Robert Morris’ Crime in 2005, Says Abuse Survivor Cindy Clemishire
Instead of receiving compensation, “We were rebuffed,” Drummond said. Drummond added that Morris’ counsel said that “it was her fault, she was the aggressor, [she] seduced him.”
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