A former Texas megachurch pastor has pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a young girl in the 1980s, according to court records. Robert Morris, who previously led Gateway Church—a congregation of over 25,000 members—entered a plea agreement in Osage County District Court, admitting to five felony counts of “lewd or indecent acts with a child.” Under the deal, he received a 10-year sentence but will serve only six months in county jail. Morris must also register as a sex offender and pay $250,000 in restitution.
The victim, Cindy Clemishire, who was 12 at the time of the abuse, attended Thursday’s hearing alongside family members. She described the plea as long-overdue accountability for Morris, who founded Gateway Church in 2000 and became a prominent figure in evangelical circles. His career collapsed after she publicly accused him in June 2024, leading to his resignation from the church. Morris had previously acknowledged a “moral failure” but avoided specifics about the allegations.
Morris’s legal team stated he sought to take responsibility for his actions and end the legal process for himself, his family, and Clemishire’s. In a 2024 statement, Morris described the incident as “kissing and petting, not intercourse, but it was wrong.” The court ordered him to pay costs of incarceration, including medical expenses, and provide restitution to the victim. Clemishire expressed hope that her story would encourage other victims to speak out and advocate for stronger protections against child sexual abuse.
