Former Texas megachurch pastor Robert Morris indicted on charges of lewd acts with minor
Former North Texas-based pastor of Gateway Church, Robert Morris, has been indicted on five counts of lewd or indecent acts with a minor, according to the Oklahoma Attorney General's office.
Last year, Morris resigned from his post after admitting to "inappropriate sexual behavior with a young lady" 35 years ago. The church removed several of its elders following a law firm's independent investigation into the allegations in November.
Here is what we know about the indictment.
According to the Oklahoma Attorney General's office, in December 1982, Morris was a traveling evangelist visiting in Hominy, Oklahoma with the family of Cindy Clemishire, the alleged victim, who was 12 at the time. Morris was 21. The indictment alleges Morris' sexual misconduct began that Christmas and continued over the next four years.
Clemishire detailed her abuse in The Wartburg Watch, a blog focusing on nefarious issues in Christian churches. The alleged abuse continued in Oklahoma and Texas until 1987, Clemishire said.
"After almost 43 years, the law has finally caught up with Robert Morris for the horrific crimes he committed against me as a child," Clemishire said in a statement to the Oklahoman after the indictment was made public.
According to RAINN.org, the statute of limitations for lewd or indecent acts to a child must be commenced by the 45th birthday of the alleged victim who was under 18 at the time the crime happened.
However, according to the Oklahoma Attorney General's office, the statute of limitations doesn't apply here because Morris was never a resident nor lived in the state at any time.
Attorney General Gentner Drummond said Morris' crimes should have been addressed long ago.
"There can be no tolerance for those who sexually prey on children,' Drummond said. 'This case is all the more despicable because the alleged perpetrator was a pastor who exploited his position. The victim in this case has waited far too many years for justice to be done.'
— USA TODAY contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Former Texas pastor Robert Morris indicted on child sex abuse charges
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