Robert Preston Morris, a former pastor of a Texas megachurch, is expected to turn himself in to Oklahoma authorities on child sexual abuse charges. The 63-year-old has been charged with five counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child in Osage County. Morris resigned from Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas, last year after being accused of sexually abusing a woman in the 1980s.
The alleged abuse began in 1982 when the victim, identified as C.C., was 12 years old and continued for four years while Morris was a traveling evangelist staying in Hominy, Oklahoma. Cindy Clemishire, the accuser, expressed gratitude to the authorities for pursuing the case and hopes that justice will prevail. Clemishire, now 55, stated that after 43 years, Morris is finally being held accountable for his actions.
Morris is expected to plead not guilty to the charges, and a $50,000 bond has been set for his release. He has been ordered to surrender his passport as well. The former pastor was known for hosting President Trump at his church in 2020 for a discussion on race relations and the economy. If convicted, Morris could face up to 20 years in prison for each of the five charges.
The attorney general’s office is handling the case, and Morris’ attorney declined to comment on the specific charges. The AP typically does not identify sexual assault victims, but Clemishire has requested for her name to be included in this case.
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