Texas Megachurch Pastor Released After Serving Time for Child Sexual Abuse

The prominent pastor of a Texas megachurch who was imprisoned for six months due to child sexual abuse in the 1980s was released on Tuesday. Robert Preston Morris, 64, left the Oklahoma State Prison shortly after midnight, according to Osage County Sheriff’s Lt. Matt Clark.

Upon his release, Morris is required to register as a sex offender and will be under supervision by Texas authorities. He must also cover the costs of his incarceration, including medical expenses and payment to the victim.

The victim, Cindy Kremischer, has not responded yet to inquiries about her feelings following Morris’ release. However, after his sentencing, she expressed a sense of relief, stating, “Justice has finally been served and the man who manipulated, groomed, and abused me as an innocent 12-year-old girl will finally go to prison.”

Jeff Leach, the Dallas attorney representing Kremischer, commented that it’s reassuring Morris faces nearly a decade of probation along with lifetime registration as a sex offender. This legal outcome, while significant, doesn’t erase the past.

Morris had faced an indictment from an Oklahoma grand jury last year and pled guilty to five counts of lewd acts involving a child. The abuse, which spanned four years, occurred when Kremischer was just 12 years old.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond, who handled the prosecution, revealed that these acts began in 1982 while Morris was an itinerant evangelist staying with Kremischer’s family in Hominy, Oklahoma. Rising to prominence, he founded Gateway Church in Southlake in 2000, which has become one of the largest megachurches in the country.

However, Morris resigned as the senior pastor in June 2024 when the abuse allegations became public. One of his attorneys, Bill Mateja, issued a statement on Tuesday where Morris extended his apologies to Kremischer and her family, acknowledging their bravery in coming forward.

“What I did to Cindy decades ago was wrong. There is no other word for it, no excuse. I am truly sorry,” Morris remarked. He also mentioned that he had sought forgiveness from Kremischer’s family years earlier, noting that her father had extended grace to him, which he feels he never deserved.

Meanwhile, Kremischer will continue to pursue justice through civil court. Leach indicated her aim is to hold not just Morris accountable for his actions, but also those who protected and enabled him, stating she seeks full accountability for all involved in the situation.

Morris remains a politically active figure, having previously been part of President Trump’s Evangelical Advisory Council.