Robert Preston Morris, a former pastor of a Texas megachurch, has been indicted in Oklahoma on charges of child sexual abuse, according to the state's attorney general's office.
Morris, 63, who had previously stepped down after a woman accused him of sexually abusing her in the 1980s, is now facing five counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child.
The alleged abuse began in 1982 when the victim, identified only as CC in the indictment, was 12 years old and Morris was a travelling preacher staying with her family in Hominy, Oklahoma, the attorney general's office stated. The abuse reportedly continued for four years.
Morris was known to have political leanings. In 2020, the church welcomed President Donald Trump to its Dallas campus for a discussion on racial relations and the economy.
Cindy Clemishire, the accuser who wished to be named, expressed her gratitude to the authorities who made the indictment possible and voiced her hope that "justice will ultimately prevail," reports the Express US.
"After almost 43 years, the law has finally caught up with Robert Morris for the horrific crimes he committed against me as a child," said Clemishire, now 55. "Now, it is time for the legal system to hold him accountable."
Attorney General Gentner Drummond stated, "There can be no tolerance for those who sexually prey on children. This case is all the more despicable because the alleged perpetrator was a pastor who exploited his position. The victim in this case has waited far too many years for justice to be done."
Founded in 2000 by Morris, Gateway Church, located in the Dallas suburb of Southlake, released a statement on Wednesday stating that the congregation is praying for Clemishire and "all of those impacted by this terrible situation."
"We are aware of the actions being taken by the legal authorities in Oklahoma and are grateful for the work of the justice system in holding abusers accountable for their actions," the church's statement read.
Following allegations published on The Wartburg Watch, a religious watchdog blog, Morris stepped down from the church last year.
Clemishire disclosed to The Dallas Morning News last year that she first met Morris in 1981 when he was a traveling preacher who began speaking at her family's Oklahoma church. According to her, Morris, his wife, and their young son became close to her family, and the abuse began in 1982 while he was staying at their house.
As one of the largest churches in the US, Gateway Church has multiple locations.
Morris could potentially face up to 20 years in prison for each of the five charges, according to the attorney general's office. By Wednesday, he was not in custody.
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