A jury in Waco, Texas, has convicted Nigerian-born Catholic priest Anthony Odiong, 57, on charges of sexual assault involving two female parishioners.
The jury, made up of eight women and four men, found Odiong guilty on one count of first-degree sexual assault and two counts of second-degree sexual assault after hearing testimony from multiple witnesses during the trial.
Following the verdict on Friday, Odiong was taken into custody and remanded in a secure detention facility pending sentencing, which is scheduled for Monday. He could face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment under Texas law.
According to court proceedings reported by The Guardian, prosecutors argued that Odiong exploited his position as a spiritual leader to initiate sexual relationships with women who sought religious guidance and counseling.
One of the complainants, identified in court as "Mary Doe," told jurors that Odiong engaged in a non-consensual sexual relationship with her over several years beginning in 2008, when she was navigating a divorce and caring for seven children. During the trial, testimony was also presented that one of her sons discovered the priest in her bedroom following a family gathering.
A second complainant, referred to as "Jane Doe," testified that she sought spiritual counseling from Odiong while experiencing difficulties in her marriage. Prosecutors alleged that the priest abused his religious authority during those interactions.
The investigation gained momentum after a February 2024 report by The Guardian detailed allegations of sexual misconduct and inappropriate relationships involving female parishioners in Texas and Louisiana. Following the publication, one of the complainants approached law enforcement with information that later formed part of the criminal case.
Prosecutors also introduced DNA evidence showing that Odiong fathered a child with another woman he had been counseling while serving at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Louisiana. While Louisiana law differs from Texas regarding offenses involving clergy and parishioners, prosecutors cited the relationship as evidence of a broader pattern of conduct.
During closing arguments, lead prosecutor Ryan Calvert told jurors that the case was not about consensual romantic relationships but about the misuse of religious authority.
"This was a pattern. This was deliberate," Calvert said. "His weapon was faith. Devout faith. Sincere faith."
Odiong's defense team argued that the relationships were consensual and challenged the prosecution's characterization of the interactions. Defense attorney Carolina Truesdale maintained that the evidence did not support claims of coercion.
Originally ordained in Nigeria in 1993, Odiong moved to the United States in 2006 and later became a naturalized U.S. citizen. Church records show that he served in Catholic parishes in Texas and Louisiana.
The case has also renewed scrutiny of how allegations against clergy are handled within the Catholic Church. Reports indicate that church authorities received complaints about Odiong years before criminal charges were filed. He was reportedly suspended from ministry in 2019 and later reassigned before being removed from public ministry in 2023.
His conviction has intensified discussions within Catholic circles about the definition of "vulnerable adults" under church law and whether protections should be expanded to include adults under the spiritual direction of clergy members.
Sentencing is expected on Monday.
