- 63-year-old Robert Morris surrendered in Osage County on 5 counts of lewd acts with a minor
- Charges stem from alleged abuse between 1982-1986 when victim was aged 12-16
- Morris resigned from Gateway Church in 2022 following initial accusations
- Case marks first criminal charges in 43-year-old allegations
- Oklahoma AG's office emphasizes historic abuse prosecution challenges
Robert Preston Morris, former senior pastor of Texas-based Gateway Church, turned himself in to Osage County authorities Monday following decades-old child sexual abuse charges. The 63-year-old faces five felony counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child under 16, each carrying a maximum 20-year prison sentence. Court documents reveal Morris posted $50,000 bond and surrendered his passport amid concerns about flight risk.
The allegations center on Cindy Clemishire, now 55, who claims Morris began assaulting her during a 1982 visit to her family's Hominy, Oklahoma home. At the time, Morris worked as a traveling evangelist while Clemishire was a 12-year-old congregant. The abuse reportedly continued through 1986, ending only when Morris left ministry temporarily. Clemishire went public in 2022, prompting Morris' resignation from the 100,000-member Gateway Church.
Legal analysts highlight this case as a bellwether for prosecuting historic religious institution abuse claims. Oklahoma's 2017 decision to eliminate criminal statutes of limitations for child sex crimes enabled the charges. 'This shows how legal reforms empower survivors,' said Tulsa-based attorney Gail Geringer. 'Digital evidence preservation and reviver laws are changing outcomes.'
Industry observers note three critical trends emerging from the case: rising liability insurance costs for megachurches, increased scrutiny of pastoral oversight boards, and congregational demands for financial transparency. A 2023 Baylor University study found 68% of large congregations now conduct annual clergy background checks, up from 22% in 2010.
Regional experts point to Oklahoma's unique legal landscape as pivotal. Unlike Texas, Oklahoma permits civil lawsuits against institutions for decades-old abuse. This distinction pressured Gateway Church, though no institutional charges have been filed. Hominy's close-knit community dynamics also played a role - court filings suggest multiple witnesses recalled Morris' 1980s interactions with the victim.
The case's political dimensions surfaced through Morris' 2020 hosting of then-President Trump at Gateway's Dallas campus. Church leadership had donated $100,000 to Trump's 2016 campaign, IRS filings show. Critics argue such ties complicate institutional accountability. 'When religious leaders court political power, it creates protection networks,' said Rice University sociologist Dr. Ellen Park.
As Oklahoma prepares for trial, the case underscores evolving approaches to clergy abuse nationwide. With 14 states now allowing retroactive child sex abuse lawsuits, legal experts anticipate more historic charges against religious figures. For survivors like Clemishire, the proceedings represent a decades-delayed chance at justice. 'This isn't just about me,' she stated. 'It's about every child sitting in a pew today.'
