Nigerian Catholic Priest Convicted in US for Sexually Abusing Women Seeking Spiritual Help

Nigerian Catholic Priest Convicted in US for Sexually Abusing Women Seeking Spiritual Help

A Texas jury has convicted former Nigerian Catholic priest Anthony Odiong of sexually assaulting women who sought spiritual guidance, bringing to a close a closely watched criminal trial that exposed years of alleged abuse of trust and clerical authority.

The 57-year-old was found guilty on one count of first-degree sexual assault and two counts of second-degree sexual assault after jurors deliberated for about two hours in Waco, Texas, on Friday.

The jury, made up of eight women and four men, reached the verdict after hearing testimony from two women who accused the former priest of exploiting his role as a spiritual adviser to initiate and sustain abusive sexual relationships during periods when they were emotionally vulnerable.

The conviction means Odiong now faces a possible life sentence on the first-degree charge, while each second-degree conviction carries a prison term of between two and 20 years. Sentencing proceedings are scheduled to begin Monday before the same jury.

The case drew widespread public attention after multiple women accused the former cleric of using his religious authority to manipulate parishioners under his pastoral care.

During the trial, one of the complainants, identified in court as Mary Doe, testified that Odiong began sexually abusing her while serving as her spiritual adviser as she struggled through a difficult divorce and cared for seven children.

She told the court the abuse continued for years and recounted how one of her sons once walked in on them having sexual intercourse in her bedroom following a family gathering.

According to courtroom testimony, when confronted, Odiong allegedly attempted to justify the encounter by telling her, “We are but men.”

A second complainant, identified as Jane Doe, told jurors she sought spiritual counselling from Odiong while trapped in an abusive marriage.

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She testified that he pressured her into permitting painful sexual acts with her husband and later demanded detailed accounts of those encounters during counselling sessions.

Prosecutors argued that the conduct constituted sexual assault under Texas law, which criminalises sexual exploitation by clergy members who abuse positions of trust over vulnerable individuals receiving spiritual or emotional guidance.

A third accuser was expected to testify but prosecutors dropped that portion of the case after describing her emotional state as extremely fragile.

They said they chose not to compel her appearance in court due to concerns over her psychological wellbeing.

Both women testified that they met Odiong while he served at St Peter Catholic Student Center in Waco, a church frequented by students and employees of Baylor University, placing them within his pastoral reach.

Jurors also heard evidence that DNA testing established Odiong fathered a child in 2023 with Presley Jones, a woman he had also reportedly counselled spiritually while serving as pastor of St Anthony of Padua Church in Louisiana.

Although Louisiana prosecutors did not pursue charges because the state lacks a clergy sexual assault law similar to Texas, prosecutors in the Waco trial presented the evidence to demonstrate what they described as a broader pattern of sexual exploitation involving women under his spiritual authority.

Odiong, originally ordained in Nigeria’s Catholic Diocese of Uyo in 1993, served in churches across Texas, Louisiana and Florida before church authorities suspended him following mounting allegations.

The allegations first became public in 2024 following investigative reports that detailed accusations of sexual coercion, unwanted touching and financial manipulation involving women under his pastoral care.

Authorities later identified additional complainants, strengthening the prosecution’s case despite the age of some of the allegations.

Court observers reported that Odiong showed little visible emotion as Judge Thomas West read the verdict.

He reportedly stared straight ahead before lowering his head as deputies escorted him from the courtroom.

The conviction marks a significant moment in efforts to hold clergy accountable for abuse of trust and power within religious institutions.

Nigerian Catholic Priest Convicted in US for Sexually Abusing Women Seeking Spiritual Help