Former Texas megachurch pastor Robert Morris turns himself in amid child sex abuse charges
Former North Texas-based pastor of Gateway Church, Robert Morris, was booked and released on bond from the Osage County jail on Monday.
Last week, Morris was 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's what we know about the arrest.
Morris was booked into the Osage County Jail at 7:57 a.m., according to the Osage County Sheriff's office there. An arrest warrant for Morris shows his bond was set at $50,000 and he was required to surrender his passport.
Morris's attorney intends to submit a not guilty plea. If found guilty, he may face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for each charge.
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.
According to WFAA, Cindy Clemishire said his acts have caught up with him.
"After almost 43 years, the law has finally caught up with Robert Morris for the horrific crimes he committed against me as a child. Now, it is time for the legal system to hold him accountable,' she said. 'My family and I are deeply grateful to the authorities who have worked tirelessly to make this day possible and remain hopeful that justice will ultimately prevail."
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.'
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Ex-Texas pastor Robert Morris out on bail after turning in himself
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