A Nigerian-born Roman Catholic priest, Anthony Odiong, has been convicted in Texas of sexually assaulting women under his spiritual care, a jury found Friday.
Odiong, 57, was found guilty on one count of first-degree sexual assault and two counts of second-degree sexual assault following a trial in Waco, Texas. He could face life in prison on the most serious charge when sentencing begins Monday.
The jury, composed of eight women and four men, reached its verdict after about two hours of deliberation.
Prosecutors said Odiong abused his position as a Catholic priest to manipulate and pressure women into sexual relationships while providing spiritual counseling. The court heard testimony from two women who said he exploited their emotional vulnerability.
One woman, identified in court documents as Mary Doe, testified that Odiong began a sexual relationship with her during a difficult divorce while acting as her spiritual adviser. She also told the court that her son once walked in on them at her home.
Another woman, identified as Jane Doe, said Odiong pressured her into sexual acts under the guise of spiritual guidance.
Odiong, who pleaded not guilty, denied the allegations through his attorneys, who argued the relationships were consensual. Prosecutors maintained that he used his clerical authority to coerce the women.
The case followed a 2024 report by The Guardian, which first detailed allegations of sexual misconduct against Odiong during his ministry in Texas and Louisiana. Prosecutors said the report prompted one of the women to come forward to authorities with additional claims.
Investigators later gathered further evidence, including DNA evidence tied to a child allegedly fathered by Odiong while in Louisiana.
Odiong, a naturalized U.S. citizen ordained in Nigeria in 1993, previously served in Catholic parishes in Texas and Louisiana. He was suspended from ministry in 2019 following earlier allegations.
