DALLAS– A previous priest of a Texas megachurch that surrendered after a lady charged him of sexually abusing her in the 1980s has actually been arraigned in Oklahoma on kid sexual assault costs, that state’s chief law officer’s workplace stated Wednesday.
Robert Preston Morris, 63, has actually been billed with 5 matters of salacious or indecent show a kid.
The claimed misuse began in 1982 when the target, described in the charge as C.C., was 12 years of ages and Morris was a taking a trip evangelist staying in Hominy, Oklahoma, with her household, according to the chief law officer’s workplace. The misuse purportedly proceeded for 4 years.
Cindy Clemishire, Morris’ accuser, stated in a declaration that she is really happy to the authorities that have actually functioned to make the charge feasible and is confident “justice will eventually dominate.”
” After virtually 43 years, the regulation has actually ultimately overtaken Robert Morris for the terrible criminal activities he dedicated versus me as a kid,” stated Clemishire, currently 55. “Currently, it is time for the lawful system to hold him responsible.”
The Associated Press generally does not call individuals that state they have actually been sexually attacked, however Clemishire stated she would certainly like her name consisted of.
Telephone number connected with Morris were either detached or messages were not promptly returned Wednesday. It was vague whether he has a lawyer.
” There can be no resistance for those that sexually take advantage of kids,” Attorney general of the United States Gentner Drummond stated in a declaration. “This instance is even more despicable since the claimed criminal was a priest that manipulated his setting. The target in this instance has actually waited much way too many years for justice to be done.”
The Portal Church, based in the Dallas suburban area of Southlake, was started by Morris in 2000. It stated in a declaration Wednesday that its participants are wishing Clemishire and “every one of those affected by this horrible circumstance.”
” We understand the activities being taken by the lawful authorities in Oklahoma and are happy for the job of the justice system in holding abusers responsible for their activities,” the declaration stated.
Morris surrendered in 2014 from the church after accusations emerged on the spiritual guard dog blog site The Wartburg Watch.
Clemishire informed The Dallas Early morning Information in 2014 that she fulfilled Morris in 1981, when he was a taking a trip preacher and started teaching at her household’s church in Oklahoma. She stated Morris and his partner and young child ended up being near her household. She stated he was remaining at her residence in 1982 when the misuse started.
The church has numerous places in the location. It is amongst the biggest in the USA, according to the chief law officer’s workplace.
Morris was understood to be politically energetic. The church organized Head of state Donald Trump on its Dallas school in 2020 for a conversation on race relationships and the economic situation.
Morris can confront twenty years behind bars for each and every of the 5 costs, according to the chief law officer’s workplace. He was not captive since Wednesday.
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