Former megachurch leader, Robert Morris, once a spiritual adviser to United States President Donald Trump, has pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a child decades ago.
Morris, 64, the founding pastor of Gateway Church in Dallas, one of the largest megachurches in the United States, entered a guilty plea in Osage County District Court to five felony counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child.
The case stemmed from allegations made by Cindy Clemishire, who said Morris abused her in the 1980s, beginning when she was 12 years old and continuing until she was 16.
Under the plea agreement, Morris received a 10-year suspended sentence and will spend six months in the county jail.
He is also required to register as a sex offender and pay $250,000 in restitution, according to NBC News.
“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,” Clemishire said in a statement after the verdict. “My hope is that many victims hear my story, and it can help lift their shame and allow them to speak up.”
Morris acknowledged parts of the allegations in a 2024 interview with the Christian Post, where he admitted, “When I was in my early 20s, I was involved in inappropriate sexual behavior with a young lady in a home where I was staying,” referring to Clemishire. He resigned from Gateway Church soon after that admission.
During her victim impact statement, Clemishire emphasized that the abuse was not a relationship but a crime.
“There is no such thing as consent from a 12-year-old child,” she said. “We were never in an ‘inappropriate relationship.’ I was not a ‘young lady’ but a child. You committed a crime against me.”
Morris was part of Trump’s evangelical advisory board during the 2016 presidential campaign.
At a 2020 faith leaders’ roundtable in Texas, Trump publicly thanked Morris, saying, “They’re great people. Great people with a great reputation. I have to say that. Great reputation. And Gateway Church, the team has been incredible in hosting us.”
