Gateway Church founder pleads guilty

Gateway Church founder Robert Morris pleaded guilty Thursday to five felony counts of child sexual abuse in Oklahoma, state officials said.

Morris, 64, entered the plea during a District Court arraignment in Osage County. Video from the hearing showed him handcuffed and taken into custody. He had previously denied the allegations after being indicted in March on five counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child.

The charges stemmed from accusations by Cindy Clemishire, who said Morris began abusing her at her home on Christmas Day in 1982, when she was 12. She said the abuse continued for years.

Under a plea agreement, Morris received a 10-year suspended sentence, with the first six months to be served in the county jail. He must register as a sex offender and pay incarceration costs, medical expenses and restitution.

Morris resigned as lead pastor of the Southlake, Texas-based megachurch last year after Clemishire’s accusations became public. Gateway has since faced staff layoffs, declining donations and leadership departures, including Morris’ son.