A Nigerian-born Roman Catholic priest has been convicted by a Texas jury of sexually assaulting women under his spiritual care.
Anthony 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.
The jury of eight women and four men reached its verdict after about two hours of deliberation on Friday, according to The Guardian.
The court heard testimony from two women who said Odiong abused his position as a priest to initiate sexual relationships while providing spiritual guidance.
Both women testified that the alleged conduct occurred during periods when they were seeking counselling.
Odiong, a naturalised United States (US) citizen ordained in Nigeria in 1993, pleaded not guilty.
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His defence argued the relationships were consensual, but prosecutors said he exploited his clerical authority.
According to reports, the case followed a 2024 report which documented allegations of misconduct during his ministry in Texas and Louisiana.
Prosecutors said that the report prompted one of the women to contact police.
Police later gathered additional evidence, including a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) evidence linked to a child.
Odiong was suspended from ministry in 2019 after earlier allegations.
He faces a maximum of life imprisonment on the first-degree charge when sentencing begins on Monday.
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