Naija-born Catholic priest Anthony Odiong don face conviction for Texas for sexual assault charges. A jury of eight women and four men find am guilty of one count of first-degree sexual assault and two counts of second-degree sexual assault. The case involve two women wey accuse am of using im position as spiritual director to pursue sex with dem.
The trial start on Tuesday for Waco, Texas, and the jury deliberate for about two hours before reach verdict. Odiong, wey be 57 years old, no plead guilty. He fit face life imprisonment for the first-degree charge, while the second-degree charges carry between two to 20 years inside prison.
Prosecutors Ryan Calvert and Liz Buice argue say Odiong exploit im vulnerable parishioners wey turn to am for spiritual direction. According to Texas law, e be crime for clergy to have sex with those wey dey under dia counseling. Calvert tell jury say, “His weapon was faith. Devout faith. Sincere faith.”
One of the victims, wey use pseudonym Mary Doe, testify say Odiong start sexual relationship with am while she dey go through divorce and dey take care of seven pikin. Her son even catch dem for her bedroom after a family party. Another victim, Jane Doe, say Odiong force am to allow her husband do something wey hurt am, as part of spiritual direction.
Odiong originally face charges involving three women, but prosecutors drop one count after the third victim no show for court. Dem say she dey “extremely emotionally fragile” and dem no want force am to testify.
The case come to light after a Guardian article for February 2024 wey report say women accuse Odiong of sexual coercion and abusive financial control. Mary Doe bring the article to Waco police, and investigation reveal more victims. DNA evidence also show say Odiong father a child with another woman, Presley Jones, wey he provide spiritual direction to for Louisiana.
Odiong im defense attorneys, Gerald Villarial and Carolina Truesdale, try to cast doubt on the women dem story. Truesdale call am a “dating relationship” and ask if Odiong be cult leader. But Calvert push back, say e be pattern of deliberate exploitation.
Odiong, wey be naturalized US citizen, ordain for priesthood for 1993 for Nigeria. He move to Waco for 2006 and later serve for Louisiana. Austin church officials suspend am for 2019 over misconduct allegations, but no tell public. New Orleans archbishop Gregory Aymond only announce suspension for late 2023.
The trial come amid wider debate for Catholic church about whether to expand definition of vulnerable adult to include those under spiritual authority. Presently, church only consider adults with severe disabilities as vulnerable. Some want the definition to cover adults wey priests initiate sex with.
Odiong be second priest from St Anthony of Padua church for Luling to be convicted of sexual violence in less than two years. Retired priest Lawrence Hecker plead guilty to kidnapping and rape for December 2024 and die that same month.
