A Texas jury has convicted Roman Catholic priest Anthony Odiong, 57, of felony sexual assault for using his clerical position to pursue sexual relationships with women receiving spiritual direction.
The panel of eight women and four men in Waco found Odiong guilty of one count of first-degree sexual assault and two counts of second-degree sexual assault involving two female victims.
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The verdict came after two hours of jury deliberation.
Odiong now faces potential life imprisonment. The sentencing phase is yet to begin.
Investigation Sparked by Media Report
The investigation began after a February 2024 article by The Guardian detailed allegations of sexual coercion and abusive control against Odiong.
A victim using the pseudonym Mary Doe presented the article to Waco police, leading to the discovery of a second victim, Jane Doe.
Mary Doe testified that Odiong initiated a years-long sexual relationship while providing spiritual direction during her divorce.
Jurors also heard testimony from Mary Doe's son, who witnessed an encounter between his mother and the priest.
Jane Doe testified that Odiong compelled her to submit to painful intercourse with her husband to save her marriage and ordered her to relay the details to him.
Prosecutors argued this conduct legally constituted assault by Odiong, even though he was not directly involved in the physical act.
Both women met Odiong while he served at Waco's St. Peter Catholic Center.
Investigators also presented DNA evidence showing Odiong fathered a child in 2023 with a Louisiana parishioner.
However, Louisiana law does not criminalize sexual conduct between clerics and adult parishioners.
Prosecutors Ryan Calvert and Liz Buice dismissed a separate first-degree sexual assault charge regarding a third woman who failed to appear in court due to an emotionally fragile state.
Authorities opted against arresting her to force an appearance.
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During closing arguments, defense attorney Carolina Truesdale attempted to characterize the encounters as consensual dating relationships and questioned the credibility of the victims.
“Is this man a cult leader? Did this man put them in a compound?”
Truesdale asked. “There is a responsibility on the women as well.”
Prosecutor Calvert rejected that characterization. “This wasn't a guy who fell in love, these weren't star-crossed lovers.
This was a pattern. This was deliberate,” Calvert said.
“His weapon was faith. Devout faith.
Sincere faith.”
The defense called one character witness who admitted on cross-examination that the former priest failed to meet the expectations of a faith leader.
A second defense witness failed to appear, and the defense declined to call him after a judge ordered his arrest.
Odiong was ordained in Nigeria in 1993 and moved to the Waco region in 2006 under Bishop Gregory Aymond.
Austin church officials suspended Odiong in 2019 over misconduct allegations but did not inform the public, though they notified New Orleans counterparts.
Aymond later enacted a separate suspension in late 2023.
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The Catholic Church defines sexual misconduct with children or vulnerable adults as abuse, but current policy restricts the definition of a vulnerable adult to individuals over 18 with severe intellectual, developmental, or psychological disabilities.
