A Nigerian-born Roman Catholic priest, Anthony Odiong, has been convicted by a jury in Texas, United States, of sexually assaulting women under his spiritual care.
Odiong, 57, was found guilty of one count of first-degree sexual assault and two counts of second-degree sexual assault following a trial in Waco, Texas.
According to reports, the jury, comprising eight women and four men, returned the verdict on Friday after about two hours of deliberation.
Prosecutors told the court that the priest exploited his position of authority to manipulate women receiving spiritual counselling into sexual relationships.
Two women testified during the trial, alleging that Odiong abused his clerical role to pressure them into sexual acts during periods of emotional vulnerability.
One of the victims, identified in court documents as Mary Doe, told jurors that the priest initiated a sexual relationship with her while providing counselling during her divorce proceedings.
She further claimed that her son once walked in on them during a sexual encounter at her residence.
Another victim, identified as Jane Doe, testified that Odiong coerced her into sexual acts under the guise of spiritual guidance.
Although the priest pleaded not guilty, prosecutors maintained that he used his position as a trusted religious leader to exploit the women.
The case gained widespread attention after a 2024 report by The Guardian detailed allegations of sexual misconduct and coercion against Odiong during his ministry in Texas and Louisiana.
Investigators later obtained additional evidence, including DNA evidence linking the priest to a child reportedly fathered while he was serving in Louisiana.
Odiong, a naturalised US citizen who was ordained in Nigeria in 1993, previously served in Catholic parishes in Texas and Louisiana before being suspended from ministry in 2019 following earlier allegations of misconduct.
His lawyers argued that the relationships were consensual. However, the jury found him guilty on all three counts.
He is expected to be sentenced on Monday and could face life imprisonment for the first-degree sexual assault conviction.
