Texas megachurch pastor pleads guilty to sexually abusing minor

Texas megachurch pastor Robert Morris pleaded guilty Thursday to five felony counts of lewd or indecent acts with a minor that occurred in the 1980s.

Morris, who turned Gateway Church into one of the largest congregations in the country, admitted to engaging in sexual activity with a female minor in Oklahoma. Under a plea agreement, he was given a 10-year sentence but will only serve six months in a county jail and the rest on probation in Texas.

The former pastor is also required to register as a sex offender and pay $250,000 in restitution, NBC News reported. 

"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," said Cindy Clemishire, who accused Morris of sexually abusing her for four years while she was a minor, according to CBS News.

"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."

Morris admitted in 2014 to being sexually immoral when he was a younger man and said he had an inappropriate relationship with a "young woman," but never disclosed specifics. He later resigned from Gateway in 2024 after the sexual abuse allegations surfaced. 

Clemishire pushed back against the "inappropriate relationship" argument during remarks on Thursday.

“Let me be clear,” she said, addressing Morris. “There is no such thing as consent from a 12-year-old child. We were never in an ‘inappropriate relationship.’ I was not a ‘young lady’ but a child. You committed a crime against me.”

Clemishire has also sued Morris over the sexual abuse, along with Gateway and Morris' wife Debbie Morris, claiming they knew of the sexual abuse allegations and failed to act. She is seeking $1 million in damages.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.