Robert Morris, Gateway Church founding pastor, pleads guilty in Oklahoma child sexual abuse case
Robert Morris, founding pastor of Gateway Church — a Texas-based megachurch with one of the largest congregations in the country — pleaded guilty Thursday to charges of indecent conduct with a child. The charges stem from an investigation into allegations that he sexually abused a young girl in Oklahoma more than 40 years ago.
The plea was entered during a scheduled hearing in Osage County. Afterwards, Morris was sentenced to 10 years in prison, with all but six months suspended. He will serve his time in Osage County and then be placed on probation for nine and a half years in Texas and is required to register as a sex offender.
He will also have to pay Clemishire $270,000 in restitution.
As the afternoon began, Morris entered the courthouse in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, flanked by his wife, his adult children, and several of their spouses. In the moments before the hearing started, he took time to hug family members and kiss his wife.
Immediately after Osage County District Special Judge Cindy Pickerill announced the sentence, Morris was taken away in handcuffs to be processed into the county jail.
Gateway Church declined to comment on Morris' guilty plea.
Survivor responds to plea
In a statement, Cindy Clemishire, who was 12 when the abuse against her began, said she hopes her case will serve as an inspiration for others.
"Today justice has finally been served, and the man who manipulated, groomed, and abused me as a 12-year-old innocent girl is finally going to be behind bars," Clemishire said. "My hope is that many victims hear my story, and it can help lift their shame and allow them to speak up. I hope that laws continue to change and new ones are written so children and victims' rights are better protected. I hope that people understand the only way to stop child sexual abuse is to speak up when it happens or is suspected."
Attorneys say Morris expresses remorse, accountability
In a post-sentencing statement, his attorneys said Morris accepted responsibility before God, saw Gateway Church as part of his spiritual repentance, and pleaded guilty to bring closure for himself, his family, and Clemishire's family. The statement marks the first Morris has apologized for what he did to Clemishire. He asked his attorneys to apologize to her and her family, and thanked friends, family, and Gateway Church members for their support and forgiveness.
His attorneys affirmed his remorse and sincerity.
"He sincerely hopes that his plea and jail sentence coupled with probation brings Ms. Clemishire and her family the finality that they might need," the statement said. "... He is at peace with his sentence and, in an odd way, looks forward to fulfilling this penance, namely going to jail for his past sin and crime."
Lawmaker, AG condemn Morris' abuse
Texas state Rep. Jeff Leach, who authored the Texas House version of the new state law banning non-disclosure agreements in cases of child sexual abuse, was in the courtroom when Morris entered his plea.
"Today I saw a real-life superhero conquer an evil villain," Leach said. "After today, Cindy Clemishire is free. And Robert Morris, her abuser, is not. And he never will be again. Going forward, we must do all we can to support abuse victims like Cindy, who had her childhood robbed from her and has had to live with shame and pain for decades before finally seeing justice prevail today."
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond said this day was long in coming.
"There can be no tolerance for those who sexually prey on children," Drummond said. "This case is all the more despicable because the perpetrator was a pastor who exploited his position of trust and authority. The victim has waited far too many years for this day."
The case against Robert Morris
According to the Oklahoma attorney general's office, the abuse began in 1982. At the time, Morris was a traveling evangelist staying with her family in Hominy, Oklahoma. The abuse continued for four years, Clemishire has said.
Morris had acknowledged in a 2014 sermon that he was "sexually immoral" as a young man and later admitted to an inappropriate relationship with a young woman. Still, he never publicly revealed Clemishire's age at the time.
Fallout from the Robert Morris case
When the allegations surfaced in 2024, Southlake-based Gateway Church initially denied that Morris had engaged in sexual relations with a minor. Church elders later reversed course, and Morris resigned on June 18, 2024.
Clemishire later said she believed she was not the only victim.
"Though I am grateful that he is no longer a pastor at Gateway, I am disappointed that the Board of Elders allowed him to resign," she wrote in a statement at the time. "He should have been terminated."
The fallout has extended far beyond the criminal case.
Clemishire and her father filed a civil lawsuit against Morris, his wife Debbie, Gateway Church, and several current and former church leaders seeking $1 million in civil damages. The lawsuit alleged the defendants knew about Morris' actions, concealed them, and profited from his "moral failures and rape of Plaintiff, Cindy Clemishire."
Robert Morris sues Gateway Church
Morris and Gateway are also entangled in a separate legal dispute over millions of dollars Morris claims he is owed from his retirement package.
In Sherman, a federal class-action lawsuit filed by former members accuses Gateway and Morris of failing to honor promises to give 15% of donations to global missions and misleading congregants with false assurances of refunds.
The church has also suffered financially in the wake of the scandal.
Earlier this year, Gateway laid off staff members amid declining tithes. In September, the church installed new lead pastor Daniel Floyd, who pledged to lead Gateway "with integrity."