Former megachurch pastor in Texas, accused of charges of sexual abuse of children

Dallas (AP) – a former pastor of a Texas Megachurch who resigned after a The woman has accused him The sexual abuse in the 1980s was charged in Oklahoma under charges of sexual abuse on children, the General Prosecutor of the State said on Wednesday.

Robert Preston Morris, 63, has been accused of five accusations of careless or indecent acts with a child.

The alleged abuse began in 1982, when the victim, mentioned in the indictment as the CC, was 12 years old, and Morris was a traveler evangelist who was in Oklahoma, with her family, according to the Attorney General. The abuse would have continued for four years.

Cindy Clemmonire, Morris’s accuser, said in a statement that he is very grateful to the authorities who have worked to make the indictment possible and it is hope that “justice will eventually predominate.”

“After almost 43 years, the law eventually caught Robert Morris for the horrible crimes he committed against me as a child,” Clemishire said 55 years ago. “Now, it’s time for the legal system to hold him accountable.”

Associated Press usually does not name people who say they were sexually assaulted, but Clemishire said they would like her name to be included.

The phone numbers associated with Morris were either disconnected or the messages were not returned immediately on Wednesday. It was not clear if he had a lawyer.

“There can be no tolerance for those who sexually prey to the children,” said Prosecutor General Gentner Drummond in a statement. “This case is even more contemptuous, because the alleged perpetrator was a pastor who exploited his position. The victim in this case waited for too many years for justice to be done. “

The Gateway Church, based in Southlake’s suburb of Dallas, was founded by Morris in 2000. He said in a statement on Wednesday that his members are praying for Clemheire and “everyone affected by this terrible situation.”

“We are aware of the actions taken by the legal authorities in Oklahoma and we are grateful for the activity of the justice system in liability of the abusers for their actions,” the statement said.