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 of one count of first-degree sexual assault and two counts of second-degree sexual assault following a trial in Waco, Texas.
The verdict was delivered on Friday by a jury comprising eight women and four men after approximately two hours of deliberation.
During the trial, prosecutors presented testimony from two women who accused the priest of exploiting his position as a spiritual adviser to manipulate and coerce them into sexual relationships.
The court heard that Odiong allegedly abused the trust placed in him as a Catholic priest, using his role to pursue sexual relationships with women he was counselling during periods of personal and emotional vulnerability.
Although the priest pleaded not guilty, he now faces the possibility of life imprisonment on the first-degree sexual assault charge. Sentencing proceedings are scheduled to begin on Monday.
One of the complainants, identified in court records as Mary Doe, told jurors that Odiong initiated a sexual relationship with her while serving as her spiritual counsellor during a difficult divorce. She further testified that her son once unexpectedly walked in on them during sexual intercourse at her home.
A second woman, identified as Jane Doe, testified that the priest pressured her into sexual acts under the guise of providing spiritual guidance.
The case gained momentum following a 2024 investigation by The Guardian, which detailed allegations of sexual misconduct and coercion against Odiong during his ministry in Texas and Louisiana. Prosecutors said the report encouraged one of the victims to approach law enforcement with additional allegations.
Subsequent investigations uncovered further evidence, including DNA linking Odiong to a child he reportedly fathered while serving in Louisiana.
Odiong, a naturalised United States citizen, was ordained as a Catholic priest in Nigeria in 1993 before later serving in parishes across Texas and Louisiana.
Authorities said he was suspended from ministry in 2019 after earlier allegations of misconduct surfaced.
During the trial, the defence argued that the relationships were consensual. However, prosecutors maintained that the priest abused the authority and influence associated with his clerical position to exploit vulnerable women under his care.
