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A Texas jury has convicted former Roman Catholic priest Anthony Odiong of sexually assaulting women who sought his spiritual guidance, concluding a closely followed case in which he was accused of abusing his position as a clergyman to engage in sexual relationships with vulnerable parishioners.
The jury, made up of eight women and four men, found Odiong, 57, guilty of one count of first-degree sexual assault and two counts of second-degree sexual assault involving two women who testified during the trial in Waco.
Odiong, who denied the charges, now faces a possible life sentence on the first-degree conviction. Sentencing is set to begin on Monday before the same jury. Each second-degree conviction carries a prison term of between two and 20 years, according to The Guardian.
Jurors deliberated for about two hours before reaching their verdict.
Initially, the case included allegations from a third woman, but prosecutors Ryan Calvert and Liz Buice dropped that portion after the complainant, described as being in an “extremely emotionally fragile” condition, failed to appear in court. Prosecutors said they chose not to compel her testimony due to her “extremely tenuous” emotional state.
Court observers reported that Odiong showed little reaction as Judge Thomas West read the verdict, sitting quietly before lowering his head as deputies led him out of the courtroom.
The case stemmed from allegations first made public in February 2024 by a group of women who accused Odiong of sexual coercion, unwanted touching, and financial control while serving as a Catholic priest
