In a stunning courtroom turn today, Robert Morris, the founding pastor of Texas megachurch Gateway Church, pleaded guilty to five felony counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child. The 64-year-old former spiritual advisor to Donald Trump faced charges stemming from allegations that he sexually abused a 12-year-old girl in Oklahoma during the 1980s. Morris, once a towering figure in evangelical circles, entered the plea before Judge Cindy Pickerill in Osage County District Court, marking a dramatic end to months of legal battles.
The abuse, detailed in court documents, involved repeated incidents over several years with Cindy Clemishire, who first went public with her story last year. Morris was sentenced to a 10-year prison term, though only six months will be served behind bars in the county jail, followed by probation. He must also register as a sex offender and pay $250,000 in restitution to the victim. Handcuffed and led away after the hearing, Morris offered no public comment, leaving the packed courtroom in stunned silence.
Gateway Church, which Morris built into one of the nation's largest congregations with over 100,000 weekly attendees at its peak, has been reeling since his resignation in June 2024. Attendance has plummeted, services have been cut, and the church announced more layoffs just months ago amid a sharp drop in donations. Indeed, the scandal exposed deeper issues: elders removed, investigations launched, and a successor resigning under his own cloud of allegations. However, church leaders have repeatedly denounced the abuse, vowing transparency.
Moreover, Morris's ties to Trump—greeting him at events and advising on faith matters—have cast a shadow over his legacy. The plea comes after an indictment in March 2025 and a brief jail booking where he was quickly released on bond. Now, as he begins this suspended sentence, the focus shifts to healing for victims like Clemishire, who attended the hearing with family.
But what does this mean for accountability in megachurches? The road ahead invites broader questions on faith and forgiveness.