OSAGE COUNTY, Okla. — Robert Morris, the founder of Gateway Church in Southlake, turned himself in to authorities in Oklahoma on Monday on charges of lewd or indecent acts with a child, officials confirmed.
Morris, 63 – who resigned from his role as lead pastor at the megachurch last summer after allegations that he sexually abused an Oklahoma woman in the ‘80s, starting when she was 12 were made public – was indicted on five counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child last week. A warrant was then issued for Morris on Thursday, court records show.
He was booked into the Osage County Jail at 7:57 a.m., according to the sheriff’s office there. It wasn’t immediately clear if Morris had posted bond.
WFAA has reached out to Morris’ attorney, but hasn’t heard back. We’ll update this story as additional information becomes available.
The indictment came after the woman, Cindy Clemishire, accused Morris of sexually abusing her starting on Christmas Day in 1982, when she was 12 and continuing over the next four years.
Morris admitted to being “involved in inappropriate sexual behavior with a young lady,” after Clemishire’s allegations were made public, but did not make reference to her age.
“There can be no tolerance for those who sexually prey on children,” Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond said when the indictment was announced. “This case is all the more despicable because the alleged perpetrator was a pastor who exploited his position. The victim in this case has waited far too many years for justice to be done.”
Clemishire also said in a statement to WFAA following the indictment saying she’s hopeful “justice will ultimately prevail.”
“After almost 43 years, the law has finally caught up with Robert Morris for the horrific crimes he committed against me as a child. Now, it is time for the legal system to hold him accountable,” Clemishire said. “My family and I are deeply grateful to the authorities who have worked tirelessly to make this day possible and remain hopeful that justice will ultimately prevail.”
The Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office said the statute of limitations isn’t applicable in this case because Morris wasn’t a resident of Oklahoma at any time.
Morris founded Gateway Church with his wife Debbie in 2000 and the church has multiple campuses in North Texas.
Following Morris’ resignation last summer several other staff members, including Robert’s son, James, have left the church.
James Morris announced the name of his new church, two months after resigning from Gateway.
Then, after the church’s internal investigation led to the firing of multiple gateway elders, Gateway announced it would add four new elders.