Nigerian-Born Catholic Priest Sentenced to Life Imprisonment in Texas Over Sexual Assault Conviction

A Nigerian-born Catholic priest based in the United States, Anthony Odiong, has been sentenced to life imprisonment in Texas following his conviction on multiple sexual assault charges.

The 57-year-old cleric was found guilty by a jury in Waco on charges of first- and second-degree sexual assault involving congregants, with prosecutors successfully arguing that he abused his position of spiritual authority to exploit victims over a period spanning more than a decade.

The court handed him a life sentence for the first-degree charge, alongside two additional 20-year sentences for second-degree charges, which are to run concurrently. He will also be eligible for parole after 30 years and was fined $10,000 per count.

Court records indicate that Odiong served in Catholic parishes across Texas and Louisiana for nearly 17 years before his conviction. Prosecutors described his actions as a prolonged abuse of trust within the church community.

Following the judgment, his legal representative confirmed that plans are underway to appeal the ruling.

The case has drawn significant attention due to the severity of the allegations and the length of time over which the offenses were said to have occurred, raising renewed discussions about safeguarding within religious institutions.