A Nigerian-born Roman Catholic priest, Anthony Odiong, has been convicted by a jury in Texas, United States, for sexually assaulting women under his spiritual care, following a trial that exposed allegations of abuse of clerical authority.
Odiong, 57, was found guilty on one count of first-degree sexual assault and two counts of second-degree sexual assault by a jury in Waco, Texas. The verdict was delivered on Friday after approximately two hours of deliberation by a panel comprising eight women and four men.
Prosecutors told the court that Odiong exploited his position as a Catholic priest to manipulate and pressure women receiving spiritual guidance into sexual relationships. The offences involved two women who testified that the priest abused his authority during periods of emotional vulnerability.
One of the victims, identified in court documents as Mary Doe, told jurors that Odiong initiated a sexual relationship with her while serving as her spiritual counsellor during a difficult divorce. She testified that her son once unexpectedly walked in on them during a sexual encounter at her home.
A second victim, identified as Jane Doe, testified that the priest pressured her into sexual acts under the guise of providing spiritual direction.
Odiong pleaded not guilty to the charges, while his defence team argued that the relationships were consensual. However, prosecutors maintained that the priest had used his position of trust and authority to exploit the women.
The case gained momentum following a 2024 investigation which detailed allegations of sexual misconduct and coercion during Odiong’s ministry in Texas and Louisiana. Prosecutors said the report encouraged one of the victims to come forward with additional allegations, leading to a broader investigation.
Authorities later uncovered further evidence, including DNA linked to a child fathered by Odiong during his time serving in Louisiana.
A naturalised United States citizen, Odiong was ordained in Nigeria in 1993 before moving to the United States, where he served in several Catholic parishes in Texas and Louisiana. He was suspended from ministry in 2019 after earlier allegations of misconduct surfaced.
Sentencing is scheduled to begin on Monday, with the first-degree sexual assault conviction carrying the possibility of a life sentence.
