In brief
Robert Preston Morris, 64, founder of Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas, was released on Tuesday after serving six months in jail for sexually abusing a child. Morris was sentenced to a 10-year probation period following his guilty plea to multiple counts of lewd acts with a minor. The victim, Cindy Clemishire, expressed relief that justice was served and is pursuing further accountability in civil court. Morris has expressed remorse for his actions and is now required to register as a sex offender.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The founder of the Texas megachurch Gateway Church, Robert Preston Morris, has been released from an Oklahoma jail after serving six months for sexually abusing a child in the 1980s. Capt. Matt Clark of the Osage County Sheriff's Office confirmed that Morris, 64, was released just after midnight on Tuesday.Morris pleaded guilty last year to five counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child, a part of a plea agreement that included a 10-year suspended sentence, with the first six months of incarceration in Osage County Jail.The abuse took place in 1982 when Morris, a traveling evangelist at the time, was staying with the victim's family in Hominy, Oklahoma. Morris, who led one of the nation’s largest megachurches until resigning in June 2024 following the victim's allegations, was indicted by an Oklahoma grand jury last year.Morris is required to register as a sex offender and will be supervised by Texas authorities. He also has been ordered to pay the costs of his incarceration and restitution to the victim.Cindy Clemishire, now in her 50s, stated previously that “justice has finally been served” during Morris’s sentencing. The legal representation for Clemishire affirmed their commitment to seek further accountability for Morris and those who may have enabled or covered for him.In a statement, Morris expressed his remorse, acknowledging the wrongs he committed decades ago and commended the Clemishire family for their courage in coming forward. Gateway Church, founded by Morris in 2000, has been politically active and previously hosted former President Donald Trump for discussions on race relations.
