Texas Megachurch Founder and Former Trump Spiritual Adviser Robert Morris Sentenced for Child Sexual Abuse

PAWHUSKA, Okla. — Robert Morris, the founder of Gateway Church and a former spiritual adviser to Donald Trump, has pleaded guilty and been sentenced for sexually abusing a 12-year-old girl in the 1980s. The abuse, which Morris admitted to, began in 1982 when the victim, Cindy Clemishire, was living with her family in Hominy, Oklahoma, where Morris was a traveling evangelist.

Morris entered a guilty plea to five felony charges related to lewd or indecent acts with a minor. As part of a plea agreement, he received a 10-year prison sentence, with all but six months suspended. He is currently serving the initial six months in the Osage County Jail in Oklahoma. Following this incarceration, Morris will be monitored on probation for nearly ten years and is required to register as a sex offender. He was additionally ordered to pay $250,000 in restitution to the victim and cover all incarceration and medical costs.

The victim addressed Morris in court, describing the profound impact the abuse had on her life, including strain on relationships and trauma that rippled through decades. Morris, 64, expressed remorse, with his attorney stating the pastor sincerely apologized and took responsibility in the eyes of the law.

Morris held a prominent place as senior pastor of one of the nation’s largest megachurches in Southlake, Texas, until his resignation following the allegations in 2024. His fall from grace has sparked widespread discussion about accountability among high-profile religious leaders.

A defamation lawsuit filed by Clemishire against Morris and Gateway Church for allegedly minimizing the abuse and benefiting financially remains ongoing.

This case highlights the ongoing reckoning within megachurch circles and broader evangelical communities regarding abuse allegations.