Nigerian-Born Catholic Priest Convicted In US Sexual Assault Case
Texas jury finds Nigerian-born priest Anthony Odiong guilty of sexually assaulting women under his spiritual care.
Nigerian-Born Catholic Priest Convicted In US Sexual Assault Case
A Nigerian-born Roman Catholic priest, Anthony Odiong, has been convicted by a jury in Texas, United States, for sexually assaulting women who were under his spiritual care.
Odiong, 57, was found guilty on one count of first-degree sexual assault and two counts of second-degree sexual assault following a trial held in Waco, Texas.
The verdict was delivered on Friday by a jury comprising eight women and four men after approximately two hours of deliberation.
According to prosecutors, the priest exploited his position of trust and authority to pursue sexual relationships with women he was counselling and providing spiritual guidance.
During the trial, two women testified that Odiong manipulated and pressured them into sexual relationships while they were going through emotionally vulnerable periods in their lives.
One of the victims, identified in court documents as Mary Doe, told jurors that the priest began a sexual relationship with her while serving as her spiritual adviser during a difficult divorce. She further testified that her son once walked in on them during an intimate encounter at her residence.
Another woman, identified as Jane Doe, alleged that Odiong pressured her into sexual acts while presenting them as part of spiritual guidance and counselling.
Odiong pleaded not guilty to the charges, while his legal team argued that the relationships were consensual. However, prosecutors maintained that he abused his clerical authority and influence over the women involved.
The case gained wider attention following a 2024 investigation that detailed allegations of sexual misconduct and coercion during Odiong’s ministry in Texas and Louisiana.
Investigators later uncovered additional evidence, including DNA evidence reportedly linked to a child fathered by the priest during his time serving in Louisiana.
Authorities disclosed that Odiong, a naturalised United States citizen, was ordained in Nigeria in 1993 before later serving in several Catholic parishes across Texas and Louisiana.
He was suspended from active ministry in 2019 following earlier allegations of misconduct.
The convicted priest could face life imprisonment on the first-degree sexual assault charge when sentencing proceedings begin on Monday.
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