A Texas court has found a Catholic priest guilty of felony sexual assault involving multiple women who were under his spiritual guidance and pastoral care.
Following graphic testimony from several witnesses, a jury at the 19th State District Court in Waco convicted 57-year-old Fr. Anthony Odiong of one count of first-degree sexual assault and two counts of second-degree sexual assault. Odiong, a priest originally ordained in the Diocese of Uyo, Nigeria, had entered a plea of not guilty but had been held in custody since 2024 under a $5.5 million bond.
A Pattern of Targeting Vulnerable Women
Prosecutors built a case demonstrating a pattern of behavior where Odiong utilized his religious authority to target vulnerable women. Among the evidence presented, DNA testing confirmed that Odiong fathered at least one child with a woman in Louisiana who was under his spiritual direction. Information regarding a second minor child, believed to be living in Nigeria, was also brought forward.
During the trial, a witness identified as "Mary Doe" testified that Odiong began preying on her after meeting her at a student Catholic center at Baylor University. At the time, she was processing a divorce from an abusive marriage while raising seven young children. She testified that Odiong offered to become her spiritual adviser, but quickly escalated the relationship into sexual encounters that took place in her home, his office, and the confessional.
Overlapping Jurisdictions and Previous Demotions
The case highlights systemic difficulties in tracking and investigating clergy abuse across different church borders:
Diocese of Austin, Texas: Odiong was permitted to minister here starting in 2006. While he was eventually suspended from active ministry in the diocese by 2019, local officials declined to provide a full timeline of his assignments and structural complaints.
Archdiocese of New Orleans, Louisiana: Odiong moved to this archdiocese in 2015 to continue his studies. He was eventually named pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Luling, Louisiana, where he served until his removal in 2023 following inflammatory altar comments and reports regarding a sexual relationship with a parishioner. New Orleans officials stated they only learned he had fathered a child through the media coverage of the Texas trial.
Final Arrest and Defense Claims
The investigation into Odiong intensified following exhaustive reporting by The Guardian regarding allegations of pastoral exploitation.
In July 2024, while acting as a fugitive from the Texas sexual assault charges, Odiong was arrested by U.S. Marshals in southwest Florida. At the time of his arrest near Ave Maria University, where he was seeking employment, he was also charged with possession of child pornography.
Before his conviction, Odiong—a naturalized U.S. citizen—attempted to rally supporters by claiming that his removal from ministry was retaliation by church officials for his conservative preaching against same-sex attraction and transgender interventions. He also fought extradition efforts, arguing that he could not safely be sent back to Nigeria due to violence against Christians.
The Archdiocese of New Orleans released a statement expressing disgust over the behaviors revealed during the trial, offering prayers for the victims. Sentencing for Odiong is scheduled to take place swiftly.
A jury has assessed former Catholic Priest Anthony Odiong two 20 year sentences and two $10,000 fines, plus life imprisonment for a first class charge.
Sources- Fox News 44 - NCR - OSV - EWTNNEWS - The Guardian - Image Waco TX Police on Facebook - https://nolacatholic.org/news/an-important-announcement-from-the-archdiocese-of-new-orleans
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