Robert Morris, Founder of Gateway Church, Faces Legal Consequences for Past Sexual Abuse
Robert Morris, the founder of Gateway Church, was released from prison after pleading guilty to charges of sexually abusing a girl in the 1980s. Morris admitted to five counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child, specifically 12-year-old Cindy Clemishire in 1982. The abuse reportedly continued for four years. In 2000, Morris established Gateway Church in Southlake, which grew to become a prominent megachurch in North Texas. Following public accusations by Clemishire in 2024, Morris resigned as the lead pastor of the church. His guilty plea included an apology to Clemishire and her family. Morris received a 10-year suspended sentence, six months in jail, and paid $270 thousand in damages and court costs. He is now a registered sex offender and will serve nine and a half years of probation.