Nigerian Priest Found Guilty of Sexual Assault in US, Faces Life Sentence

A Nigerian Catholic priest, Anthony Odiong, has been convicted by a jury in the United States on multiple sexual assault charges and now faces the possibility of spending the rest of his life behind bars.

Odiong, 57, was found guilty of one count of first-degree sexual assault and two counts of second-degree sexual assault following a trial held in Waco, Texas.

According to a report by The Guardian, the verdict was delivered by a jury comprising eight women and four men after hearing testimonies from two women who accused the cleric of sexually abusing them and exploiting his position as a religious leader.

Under Texas law, the first-degree conviction carries a potential life sentence, while the second-degree offences attract prison terms ranging from two to 20 years each.

The court is expected to commence sentencing proceedings on Monday.

The conviction followed investigations launched after allegations against Odiong were brought to public attention through media reports detailing claims of sexual exploitation and abuse involving several women.

With the verdict, Odiong is set to become the second priest linked to St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Luling, Texas, to be convicted in connection with a sexual assault-related offence within the past two years.

In a separate case, retired Catholic priest Lawrence Hecker, 93, was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2024 after admitting to the kidnapping and rape of a boy at a church in New Orleans in 1975.

The latest conviction has once again drawn attention to allegations of sexual misconduct involving members of the clergy and ongoing efforts by authorities to hold offenders accountable regardless of status or position.