A former Texas megachurch pastor has pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a minor in the 1980s, according to court records. Robert Morris, who previously led Gateway Church—a congregation of over 25,000 members—entered a plea before Osage County District Court Judge Cindy Pickerill, acknowledging five felony counts of “lewd or indecent acts with a child.” Under a negotiated agreement, Morris received a 10-year sentence but will serve only six months in county jail. He is also required to register as a sex offender and pay $250,000 in restitution.
Morris, 64, was handcuffed and taken into custody after the hearing. Cindy Clemishire, the woman who accused him of molesting her at age 12, attended the proceedings with family. She described the moment as a long-awaited resolution to decades of suffering. Morris’s career, which included founding Gateway Church in 2000 and becoming a global evangelical figure, collapsed after Clemishire publicly alleged abuse in 2024. At the time, Morris acknowledged a “moral failure” but avoided specifics.
Clemishire, now 55, stated in a public statement that “justice has finally been served” and expressed hope that her story would encourage other victims to speak out. Morris’s attorney, Bill Mateja, said his client sought to accept legal responsibility for his actions and apologized to Clemishire and her family. Morris previously described the incident as “kissing and petting” during his early 20s but acknowledged it was “wrong.”
Morris must comply with sex offender registration requirements and face supervision by Texas authorities. The case highlights the enduring consequences of historical abuse and the legal repercussions faced by those in positions of power.