PAWHUSKA, Okla. — Robert Morris, founder of the influential Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas, is appearing in court this morning in Osage County, Oklahoma, where he faces five counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child.
The charges stem from allegations dating back to the 1980s. The accuser, Cindy Clemishire, now 55, claims Morris began abusing her in 1982 when she was 12 years old. According to Clemishire, the abuse continued for four years while Morris, then a traveling evangelist, stayed with her family in Hominy, Oklahoma.
Morris, 63, turned himself in to authorities in March after being indicted by a multi-county grand jury. He was released on a $50,000 bond and surrendered his passport. Morris has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
At today’s pre-preliminary hearing, attorneys are meeting with the judge to discuss the progression of the case. No plea agreements are currently on the table, and the matter appears likely to advance to a preliminary hearing unless a resolution is reached.
Clemishire is attending the hearing, marking the first time in years she and Morris are in the same room. She has been publicly advocating for “Trey’s Law,” a Texas bill that would void nondisclosure agreements in cases of child sexual abuse and human trafficking.
If convicted, Morris could face up to 20 years in prison for each count. Oklahoma authorities confirm that the statute of limitations does not apply because Morris was not a state resident at the time of the alleged abuse.
Gateway Church, which Morris founded in 2000 and grew into one of the largest megachurches in the country, has removed several elders reportedly aware of the allegations. The church says it is cooperating with the investigation.
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