Nigerian-Born Catholic Priest Convicted of Sexual Assault in United States

Nigerian-Born Catholic Priest Convicted of Sexual Assault in United States

A Nigerian-born Roman Catholic priest, Anthony Odiong, has been convicted by a jury in the United States for sexually assaulting women 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 in Waco. The verdict was delivered on Friday after a jury comprising eight women and four men deliberated for approximately two hours.

According to court proceedings, two women testified that the priest exploited his position as a spiritual leader to manipulate and pressure them into sexual relationships while providing counselling and spiritual guidance.

Prosecutors argued that Odiong abused the trust and authority associated with his clerical role, targeting women during periods of emotional vulnerability.

One of the complainants, identified in court documents as Mary Doe, told the jury that the priest began a sexual relationship with her while counselling her through a difficult divorce. She also testified that her son once discovered the pair engaged in sexual activity at her residence.

A second complainant, identified as Jane Doe, alleged that Odiong pressured her into sexual acts under the guise of spiritual guidance and counselling.

Odiong, who pleaded not guilty to the charges, maintained through his legal team that the relationships were consensual. However, prosecutors insisted that the priest’s actions constituted an abuse of authority and trust.

The case gained wider attention following a 2024 investigation by The Guardian which reported allegations of sexual misconduct and coercion linked to the priest’s ministry in Texas and Louisiana.

Investigators later gathered additional evidence, including DNA evidence reportedly linking Odiong to a child fathered during his time serving in Louisiana.

Ordained in Nigeria in 1993, Odiong later became a naturalised United States citizen and served in Catholic parishes across Texas and Louisiana. Authorities said he was suspended from ministry in 2019 following earlier allegations of misconduct.

The priest now faces sentencing, which is scheduled to begin on Monday. He could face life imprisonment on the first-degree sexual assault conviction.

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Nigerian-Born Catholic Priest Convicted of Sexual Assault in United States