(OK)
Dallas Morning News [Dallas TX]
March 31, 2026
By Isabella Volmert
n June 2024, Cindy Clemishire publicly accused prominent Gateway Church founder Robert Morris of sexually abusing her as a child in the 1980s. After he was released from jail Monday, Clemishire said she will continue to seek justice.
The former Southlake megachurch pastor was indicted on child sex abuse charges in March 2025. He was sentenced to a 10-year suspended sentence in October and was required to register as a sex offender for life. Additionally, he agreed to pay Clemishire $270,000 after he pleaded guilty.
He completed a six-month sentence in Osage County jail in Oklahoma on Monday. In a lengthy statement he released through his attorneys on Tuesday, Morris apologized once again and asked Clemishire and her family for forgiveness.
In an interview with The News last year, Clemishire said recovering from the abuse, which she said started when she was 12 years old, was a “lifelong journey.” In June, Clemishire filed a defamation lawsuit against Morris, his wife, Gateway and church leadership, saying statements incorrectly framed the abuse as an “inappropriate relationship.” A jury trial for the case is scheduled for June 2026, according to court records. The church elders have denied the claims.
A spokesperson for Gateway declined to comment on Morris’ release and Clemishire’s statement.
Here is her full statement, as provided by Jeff Leach, an attorney representing Clemishire and a Texas House lawmaker representing Collin County.
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Robert Morris’ six month prison sentence for the sexual assault of twelve-year old Cindy Clemishire may be complete, but we are heartened to know that he still has nearly ten years of probation as well as a lifetime ahead of being publicly registered as a sex offender.
While the criminal justice system continues to hold Robert accountable for his heinous crimes and seeks to protect potential future victims through close monitoring and probation limitations, Cindy will continue to fully pursue justice via the civil justice system.
She rightfully seeks full accountability not only for Robert and the crimes he committed against her as a young child, but also for the other individuals who harbored him, covered for him, lied for him and even in some cases attacked Cindy on his behalf.”