A former pastor of a Texas megachurch who resigned after a girl accused him of sexually abusing her within the Nineteen Eighties has been indicted in Oklahoma on baby sexual abuse prices, that state’s legal professional basic’s workplace stated Wednesday.
Robert Preston Morris, 63, has been charged with 5 counts of lewd or indecent acts with a baby.
The alleged abuse began in 1982 when the sufferer, referred to within the indictment as C.C., was 12 years previous and Morris was a touring evangelist staying in Hominy, Oklahoma, along with her household, in response to the legal professional basic’s workplace. The abuse allegedly continued for 4 years.
Cindy Clemishire, Morris’ accuser, stated in a press release that she could be very grateful to the authorities who’ve labored to make the indictment doable and is hopeful “justice will in the end prevail.”
“After nearly 43 years, the regulation has lastly caught up with Robert Morris for the horrific crimes he dedicated in opposition to me as a baby,” stated Clemishire, now 55. “Now, it’s time for the authorized system to carry him accountable.”
The Related Press sometimes doesn’t title individuals who say they’ve been sexually assaulted, however Clemishire stated she would really like her title included.
Cellphone numbers related to Morris have been both disconnected or messages weren’t instantly returned Wednesday. It was unclear whether or not he has an legal professional.
“There may be no tolerance for many who sexually prey on kids,” Lawyer Common Gentner Drummond stated in a press release. “This case is all of the extra despicable as a result of the alleged perpetrator was a pastor who exploited his place. The sufferer on this case has waited far too a few years for justice to be carried out.”
The Gateway Church, based mostly within the Dallas suburb of Southlake, was based by Morris in 2000.
It stated in a press release Wednesday that its members are praying for Clemishire and “all of these impacted by this horrible state of affairs.”
“We’re conscious of the actions being taken by the authorized authorities in Oklahoma and are grateful for the work of the justice system in holding abusers accountable for his or her actions,” the assertion stated.
Morris resigned final 12 months from the church after allegations got here to gentle on the non secular watchdog weblog The Wartburg Watch.
Clemishire instructed The Dallas Morning Information final 12 months that she met Morris in 1981, when he was a touring preacher and commenced preaching at her household’s church in Oklahoma.
She stated Morris and his spouse and younger son turned near her household. She stated he was staying at her home in 1982 when the abuse started.
The church has a number of places within the space. It’s among the many largest in the US, in response to the legal professional basic’s workplace.
Morris was recognized to be politically lively. The church hosted President Donald Trump on its Dallas campus in 2020 for a dialogue on race relations and the economic system.
Morris might resist 20 years in jail for every of the 5 prices, in response to the legal professional basic’s workplace. He was not in custody as of Wednesday.
