A jury of eight women and four men was seated on Tuesday in the criminal trial of Anthony Odiong, a Roman Catholic priest charged with sexually abusing three female congregants in Texas. Odiong, 57, faces five counts of first-degree sexual assault and two counts of second-degree sexual assault, with a potential life sentence if convicted on any first-degree charge.
The charges stem from allegations that Odiong exploited his position as a spiritual adviser to engage in sexual conduct with women he met while ministering in Texas and south-east Louisiana. Prosecutors argue that he abused the women's emotional dependency on him, a violation of Texas law classifying such conduct as a felony.
Odiong's trial was prompted by a Guardian report in February 2024, which detailed accusations of sexual coercion, unwanted touching, and financial control. One woman brought the article to Waco police, leading to an investigation that identified up to ten alleged victims. Prosecutors eventually charged Odiong based on the accounts of three women.
Two of the accusers were married at the time of the alleged assaults, leading to first-degree charges under a Texas anti-bigamy law that prohibits a clergyman from appearing to be married to congregants. Odiong's attorneys have argued that the state waited too long to file charges, but the judge allowed the case to proceed.
Prosecutors are expected to present evidence that Odiong fathered a child with a former congregant, demonstrating a pattern of behaviour. The trial is expected to last into the following week, with opening arguments and witness testimony beginning on Tuesday.
