On Monday morning (March 17), Robert Morris, Gateway Church’s founder and former senior pastor, surrendered to the Osage County Sheriff’s Office.
Morris voluntarily turned himself in after an Oklahoma grand jury indicted him on five charges on Wednesday (March 12). The charges stemmed from Morris’ alleged sexual abuse of 12-year-old Cindy Clemishire in the 1980s. Morris was 21 at the time of the alleged abuse.
He resigned as senior pastor of Gateway, a megachurch in the Fort Worth area of Texas, on June 18, 2024, after Clemishire accused him of repeatedly sexually abusing her between 1982-1987.
According to Osage County Sheriff’s Office records, Morris was booked just before 8 a.m., was patted down, and released shortly thereafter following Morris posting the $50,000 bond. Morris’ booking sheet also shows the former pastor’s mug shots.
Osage County’s Captain Herb Cline informed The Dallas Morning News that Morris did surrender his passport as instructed by Judge Cindy Pickerill.
Court records also indicate that Morris was accompanied by his attorney Mack Martin, who entered a plea of “Not Guilty” on behalf of his client. Morris is scheduled to return to court on May 9 at 10 a.m.
Morris faces a maximum of 100 years in prison if he is found guilty of all five charges.
Over the weekend, Morris’ former church addressed the indictment during its weekend worship services, saying, “Gateway is no longer involved in this legal matter.”
RELATED: Gateway Church Addresses Criminal Charges Against Founder Robert Morris
“As we continue to move forward and heal and step into the great things that God’s doing in our church, just know that our team is available to you to pray with you,” Nic Lesmeister, the church’s executive pastor of central and outreach ministries, said.
The 63-year-old Morris publicly confessed to his relationship with Clemishire on multiple occasions during his time at Gateway Church, but he described the incident as “inappropriate sexual behavior with a young lady.” He never disclosed that Clemishire was a child.
“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 that followed Morris’ indictment. “Now, it is time for the legal system to hold him accountable. My family and I are deeply grateful to the authorities who have worked tirelessly to make this day possible and remain hopeful that justice will ultimately prevail.”
, Robert Morris, Gateway Church founder and former senior pastor, surrendered to the Osage County Sheriff’s Office.){kind=link}