Robert Preston Morris, former senior pastor of Gateway Church in Texas, has pleaded guilty to five counts of lewd and indecent acts with a child stemming from incidents that occurred in Oklahoma during the 1980s. The victim was 12 years old at the time.
Under a plea agreement, Morris received a 10-year suspended sentence, must serve six months in jail, register as a sex offender, and pay restitution.
The victim, Cindy Clemishire, now 55, expressed relief after decades of waiting for accountability. “Justice has finally been served… the man who manipulated, groomed and abused me as a 12-year-old innocent girl is finally going to be behind bars,” she said, according to the Associated Press.
Clemishire added that she hopes her story will encourage other survivors to come forward. “My hope is that many victims hear my story, and it can help lift their shame and allow them to speak up,” she added.
Cindy Clemishire, was 12 years old, at the time, when she was sexually violated by Robert Preston Morris, from 1982 to 1987, according to her court statement; Photo Credit: Courtesy of NBC News
Authorities underscored the importance of protecting children, especially from those in positions of power and trust, stating there can be no tolerance for those who exploit minors.
