Robert Morris, 64, Stepped Down Leader of Gateway Church pleads guilty to Child Sexual Abuse
Robert Morris, 64, the former leader of Gateway Church, has pled guilty to charges of child sexual abuse dating back to the 1980s. Morris, who previously stepped down from his pastoral role, entered the plea in Oklahoma on counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child.
The Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office confirmed that Morris entered the pleas on Thursday before a judge in Osage County as part of a plea agreement. He was sentenced to 10 years, with six months to be served in jail and the remainder suspended under supervision. Morris must also register as a sex offender.
Authorities said the abuse began in 1982 when the affected child was just 12 years old and Morris was a traveling evangelist staying with her family in Hominy, Oklahoma. The abuse continued for four years.
Now 55, the affected person said in a statement: “Justice has finally been served, and the man who manipulated, groomed and abused me as a 12-year-old innocent girl is finally going to be behind bars.” She urged other affected persons to speak out and called for stronger laws to protect children.
Morris, who founded Gateway Church in 2000, resigned last year after the allegations became public. Gateway grew into one of the nation’s largest megachurches under his leadership and was once a hub of political influence, even hosting former U.S. President Donald Trump in 2020.
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond said, “There can be no tolerance for those who sexually prey on children. This case is all the more despicable because the perpetrator was a pastor who exploited his position of trust and authority.”
The case underscores the fundamental protections enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which guarantee every child the right to dignity, protection from sexual exploitation and abuse.
