DALLAS — A former pastor of a Texas megachurch who resigned after a lady accused him of sexually abusing her within the Nineteen Eighties has been indicted in Oklahoma on youngster sexual abuse expenses, that state’s lawyer basic’s workplace mentioned Wednesday.
Robert Preston Morris, 63, has been charged with 5 counts of lewd or indecent acts with a toddler.
The alleged abuse began in 1982 when the sufferer was 12 years outdated and Morris was a touring evangelist staying in Hominy, Oklahoma, together with her household, in response to the lawyer basic’s workplace. The abuse allegedly continued for 4 years.
“There may be no tolerance for individuals who sexually prey on youngsters,” Lawyer Common Gentner Drummond mentioned in a press release. “This case is all of the extra despicable as a result of the alleged perpetrator was a pastor who exploited his place. The sufferer on this case has waited far too a few years for justice to be achieved.”
Telephone numbers related to Morris have been both disconnected or messages weren’t instantly returned Wednesday. It was unclear whether or not he has an lawyer.
The Gateway Church, primarily based within the Dallas suburb of Southlake, was based by Morris in 2000. It mentioned in a press release Wednesday that its members are praying for Morris’ accuser and “all of these impacted by this horrible scenario.”
“We’re conscious of the actions being taken by the authorized authorities in Oklahoma and are grateful for the work of the justice system in holding abusers accountable for his or her actions,” the assertion mentioned.
Morris resigned final 12 months from the church after allegations got here to gentle on the non secular watchdog weblog The Wartburg Watch.
The kid sufferer, who’s now an grownup, informed The Dallas Morning Information final 12 months that she met Morris in 1981, when he was a touring preacher and started preaching at her household’s church in Oklahoma. She mentioned Morris and his spouse and younger son turned near her household. She mentioned he was staying at her home in 1982 when the abuse started.
The Related Press sometimes doesn’t title individuals who say they’ve been sexually assaulted.
The church has a number of places within the space. It’s among the many largest in the USA, in response to the lawyer basic’s workplace.
Morris was recognized to be politically lively. The church hosted President Donald Trump on its Dallas campus in 2020 for a dialogue on race relations and the financial system.
Morris might resist 20 years in jail for every of the 5 expenses, in response to the lawyer basic’s workplace. He was not in custody as of Wednesday.
