By SEAN MURPHY, Related Press
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A former pastor of a Texas megachurch accused of kid sexual abuse surrendered to Oklahoma authorities Monday.
Robert Preston Morris, 63, turned himself in to officers in Osage County, the place he was charged final week with 5 counts of lewd or indecent acts with a baby, Phil Bacharach, a spokesman for the Oklahoma Lawyer Basic’s Workplace, advised The Related Press.
Court docket data present an Osage County decide set a $50,000 bond and ordered Morris to give up his passport.
Morris is anticipated to make an preliminary look earlier than a decide at 10 a.m. on Might 9, Bacharach mentioned.
Lawyer Mack Martin declined to touch upon the fees however mentioned he anticipated getting into a not responsible plea on Morris’ behalf.
Morris resigned final yr as pastor of Gateway Church within the Dallas suburb of Southlake after a girl accused him of sexually abusing her within the Eighties.
The sufferer, referred to within the indictment as C.C., advised authorities the abuse began when she was 12 years previous and Morris was a touring evangelist staying in Hominy, Oklahoma, along with her household, in accordance with the lawyer basic’s workplace. She mentioned the abuse continued for 4 years.
Cindy Clemishire, Morris’ accuser, mentioned in a press release that she could be very grateful to the authorities who’ve labored to make the indictment attainable and is 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,” mentioned Clemishire, now 55. “Now, it is time for the legal system to hold him accountable.”
The AP sometimes doesn’t identify individuals who say they’ve been sexually assaulted, however Clemishire mentioned she would really like her identify included.
Morris was recognized to be politically energetic. The church hosted President Donald Trump on its Dallas campus in 2020 for a dialogue on race relations and the financial system.
Morris may resist 20 years in jail for every of the 5 prices, in accordance with the lawyer basic’s workplace.
Initially Revealed: March 17, 2025 at 10:26 AM EDT
