A Nigerian-born Catholic priest, Anthony Odiong, has been sentenced to life imprisonment in Texas, United States, for sexually assaulting women under his spiritual care. Odiong, a naturalized US citizen, was earlier convicted by a jury on May 29 in Texas after being found guilty on one count of first-degree sexual assault and two counts of second-degree sexual assault following a trial in Waco, Texas.
The jailed cleric originally hails from Akwa Ibom State, South-south Nigeria, where he was ordained in 1993. He later served in Catholic parishes in Texas and Louisiana, two neighboring states in the US.
Life Imprisonment
Odiong was sentenced to life imprisonment on Tuesday after witnesses testified against him, as reported by The Guardian UK. Some character witnesses on behalf of Odiong had appealed for probation, arguing that the convict could follow the rules of such an arrangement, including living near Waco and not committing additional crimes. However, the jury declined and instead asked Odiong to plead guilty in exchange for 20 years' imprisonment, which he rejected.
Delivering judgment, the jury, consisting of eight women and four men, handed Odiong 20 years' imprisonment on each of the two counts of second-degree sexual assault. The jury also sentenced him to life imprisonment on one count of first-degree sexual assault. The jurors fined Odiong $10,000 on each of the three counts, totaling $30,000. They ruled that the three sentences would run concurrently, and Odiong will be eligible for parole after 30 years in prison. Odiong's lawyer, Gerald Villarial, told reporters on Tuesday that he would seek an appeal.
Testimony Against Odiong
Of the three counts for which Odiong was convicted and sentenced, two counts of second-degree sexual assault involved two women, each of whom testified when the trial began in May. The two women, identified as Mary Doe and Jane Doe, said Odiong used his role as a priest to manipulate and pressure them into sexual relationships.
One of the women, Mary, told the jury that Odiong began a sexual relationship with her while providing spiritual counseling during a difficult divorce. She further testified that her son once walked in on her and Odiong during sexual intercourse at her home. The second woman, Jane, told the jury that Odiong pressured her into sexual acts under the pretext of spiritual guidance.
Prosecutors told the jury that Odiong abused his clerical authority during periods of emotional vulnerability. However, Odiong pleaded not guilty to the charges. His lawyers argued during the trial that the relationships with the women were consensual, but prosecutors maintained that he abused his position of authority as a clergy member.
The convict had initially been charged with first-degree sexual assault of a third woman. However, prosecutors Ryan Calvert and Liz Buice dismissed that aspect of the case after the woman, said to be in an extremely emotionally fragile state, failed to appear on the witness stand. The prosecution opted against tracking her down to ensure her appearance due to her extremely tenuous emotional condition.
How the Case Came About
The trial began after a 2024 report by The Guardian, which first documented allegations of sexual misconduct and coercion against the priest during his ministry in Texas and Louisiana. Prosecutors said that the report prompted one of the victims to come forward to police with further allegations. Investigators later gathered additional evidence, including DNA linked to a child reportedly fathered by Odiong during his time in Louisiana. Authorities said the cleric was suspended from the ministry in 2019 following earlier allegations of misconduct.
