A Roman Catholic priest convicted of sexual assault in Texas has been sentenced to life in prison. Anthony Odiong, 57, received the punishment from a jury in Waco on Tuesday after being found guilty of first- and second-degree sexual assault charges for exploiting his spiritual authority to have sex with two female parishioners.
Odiong was convicted on Friday following a four-day trial. Jurors sentenced him to life for the first-degree charge and 20 years for each of two second-degree charges, to be served concurrently. He will be eligible for parole after 30 years and was fined $10,000 on each count. His attorney, Gerald Villarial, said an appeal would be sought.
The case stemmed from a Guardian investigation published in February 2024, which detailed allegations from multiple women of sexual coercion and abusive financial control by Odiong. One woman, identified in court as Mary Doe, brought the article to Waco police, leading to charges. Another complainant, Jane Doe, testified that Odiong compelled her to engage in painful intercourse with her husband as part of spiritual direction.
During sentencing, two former Baylor University students testified that Odiong touched them inappropriately, including one who said he hugged her with an erection after confession. Odiong had served as a priest in Waco and Luling, Louisiana, where he was removed in 2023 over misconduct with multiple women.
