Nigerian Catholic Priest convicted in US for sexually assaulting women

A Nigerian-born Roman Catholic priest, Anthony Odiong, has been convicted by a assemblage successful Texas, United States, for sexually assaulting women who were nether his spiritual care.
Odiong, 57, was recovered blameworthy of 1 number of first-degree intersexual battle and 2 counts of second-degree intersexual battle pursuing a proceedings successful Waco, Texas.

The verdict was delivered connected Friday by a assemblage comprising 8 women and 4 men aft astir 2 hours of deliberation.

During the trial, prosecutors argued that Odiong exploited his presumption arsenic a Catholic clergyman to manipulate susceptible women seeking spiritual guidance into intersexual relationships.

Two women testified that the clergyman abused his clerical authorization portion providing them with spiritual counselling during hard periods successful their lives.

One of the victims, identified successful tribunal records arsenic Mary Doe, told jurors that Odiong initiated a intersexual narration with her portion counseling her done a divorce. She testified that her lad erstwhile walked successful connected them during a intersexual brushwood astatine her home.

Another complainant identified arsenic Jane Doe alleged that the clergyman pressured her into intersexual acts nether the guise of spiritual guidance.

Prosecutors maintained that the offences were committed portion the women were emotionally susceptible and relying connected Odiong for spiritual support.

The lawsuit gained nationalist attraction aft a 2024 probe by The ...