Robert Morris, the Gateway Church founding pastor convinced last year of raping a 12-year-old girl, is out of jail after six months. Morris pleaded guilty to five felony counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child, and the short sentence was part of his plea deal; he was also required to pay $250,000 in restitution to his victim, now an adult.
Robert Preston Morris, 64, was released just after midnight, said Osage County Sheriff's Capt. Matt Clark. … The abuse began in 1982 when the victim was 12 and Morris was a traveling evangelist staying in Hominy, Oklahoma, with her family, according to Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond, whose office prosecuted the case.
Gateway Church, where Morris served as senior pastor, was one of the nation's largest megachurches. Permitted to resign after his victim's allegations became public, he was indicted by a grand jury shortly thereafter. The convicted pedophile must register as a sex offender and pay for the cost of his incarceration.
Jeff Leach, the victim's attorney, said in a statement that they are "heartened to know that he still has nearly ten years of probation as well as a lifetime ahead of being publicly registered as a sex offender."
Morris again apologized to the victim and her family, in a statement published by one his attorneys. Earlier in the case, though, another Morris laywer, J. Shelby Sharp, blamed the 12-year-old child for what Morris admitted he did to her.
Interestingly, since its inception, Mr. Sharpe has developed a specialty in representing religious organizations and their members. … This calling results in unique polities and governance and, often, in values and practices that may be contrary to secular culture and the civil laws of that culture.
"Interestingly."
Previously:
• Trump spiritual advisor pleads guilty to child sexual abuse
• Texas megachurch lets pedophile pastor Robert Morris resign
• Attendance sinks at Robert Morris's Texas megachurch
• The Morris worm infected 10% of the Internet in 1988, causing millions in damage
