A Texas jury has found Nigerian-born Catholic priest Anthony Odiong guilty of sexually assaulting women he counselled as a spiritual adviser.
A jury in Waco, Texas, convicted 57-year-old Anthony Odiong on one count of first-degree sexual assault and two counts of second-degree sexual assault. Prosecutors argued that Odiong abused his position as a priest to pursue sexual relationships with vulnerable women seeking spiritual guidance.
The former priest pleaded not guilty, but jurors returned a guilty verdict after about two hours of deliberation. He now faces a possible life sentence on the first-degree charge, while the second-degree convictions each carry prison terms of up to 20 years.
The case was based on allegations from women who said Odiong exploited his role as a spiritual adviser while serving in Texas and later Louisiana. Church officials had suspended him from ministry in 2019 over complaints involving multiple women.
Sentencing proceedings are scheduled to begin on Monday before the same Texas jury.
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