A Texas jury has found Nigerian-born Catholic priest Anthony Odiong guilty of sexually assaulting women under his spiritual care in the United States.
The 57-year-old was convicted of one count of first-degree sexual assault and two counts of second-degree sexual assault after a trial in Waco, Texas. Jurors reportedly reached their verdict after about two hours of deliberation.
Prosecutors told the court that Odiong abused his position as a priest to manipulate vulnerable women he was counselling into sexual relationships. They said he exploited women going through emotional hardship and used his spiritual authority to pressure them into sexual acts.
Two women testified during the trial, giving detailed accounts of how the abuse allegedly occurred. One victim said the relationship began while she was receiving counselling for a divorce, while another said she was coerced into sexual acts under the guise of spiritual guidance.
The case gained wider attention following a 2024 report by The Guardian that highlighted earlier allegations of misconduct against the priest. Investigators later uncovered further evidence, including DNA linking Odiong to a child reportedly fathered during his ministry in Louisiana.
Odiong, who was ordained in Nigeria in 1993, later became a U.S. citizen and served in Catholic parishes across Texas and Louisiana. He was suspended in 2019 over earlier allegations.
He pleaded not guilty during the trial, with his lawyers arguing that the relationships were consensual. However, prosecutors maintained that he exploited his clerical authority to manipulate the victims.
He could now face life imprisonment when sentencing begins on Monday.
