Nigerian Priest Sentenced to Life in US for Sexual Assault

A Nigerian priest, Anthony Odiong, has been sentenced to life in prison in Texas, United States, for sexually assaulting women who were under his care.

Mr Odiong, who became a US citizen, was found guilty by a jury on May 29 in Waco, Texas. He faced one charge of first-degree sexual assault and two charges of second-degree sexual assault after the trial.

Originally from Akwa Ibom State in South-south Nigeria, Mr Odiong was ordained in 1993. He later worked in Catholic churches in Texas and Louisiana, two states in the US.

Life Sentence

On Tuesday, Mr Odiong received a life sentence after witnesses testified against him, as reported by the Guardian UK.

Some people spoke on Mr Odiong's behalf, asking for probation instead of jail time. They believed he could follow the rules of probation, like living close to Waco and staying out of trouble.

But the jury refused this plea. They offered Mr Odiong a chance to plead guilty for 20 years in prison, which he turned down. The jury, made up of eight women and four men, gave Mr Odiong 20 years for each of the two second-degree sexual assault charges.

They also sentenced him to life in prison for the first-degree charge. In addition, they fined him $10,000 for each charge, totaling $30,000.

The jury decided that all three sentences would run at the same time, meaning Mr Odiong can seek parole after 30 years.

Mr Odiong's lawyer, Gerald Villarial, told reporters he plans to appeal the decision.

Witness Testimonies

Mr Odiong was convicted on three counts, with two of the second-degree counts involving two women who testified in May.

Mary Doe and Jane Doe said Mr Odiong used his position as a priest to pressure them into sexual relationships. Mary shared with the jury that Mr Odiong started a sexual relationship with her while she was going through a tough divorce. She said her son caught them in bed together at her home.

Jane testified that Mr Odiong coerced her into sexual acts, claiming it was part of spiritual guidance.

Prosecutors argued that Mr Odiong took advantage of the women during their vulnerable times. Mr Odiong, though, pleaded not guilty to all charges.

His lawyers claimed the relationships were consensual, while prosecutors insisted he misused his authority as a priest.

Initially, Mr Odiong faced first-degree sexual assault charges for a third woman. However, prosecutors dropped that charge when the woman, described as being emotionally fragile, didn’t show up to testify. They chose not to pursue her further due to her delicate emotional state.

Origin of the Case

The trial started after a 2024 report by The Guardian that revealed claims of sexual misconduct against Mr Odiong during his time in Texas and Louisiana.

Following the report, one of the victims came forward to police with more allegations. Investigators later found additional evidence, including DNA linked to a child said to be fathered by Mr Odiong in Louisiana.

Authorities revealed that Mr Odiong was suspended from ministry duties in 2019 after earlier allegations of misconduct.