Catholic priest who was convicted of sexual assault in Texas sentenced to 99 years in prison
A Waco jury gave Anthony Odiong 99 years after convicting the priest of sexual assault tied to his spiritual authority over parishioners.
Intelligence analysis by GPT-5.4 Mini
Anthony Odiong, a Catholic priest, was sentenced to 99 years in prison in Texas after a jury found he used his role as a spiritual adviser to sexually assault women. The case grew out of reporting and complaints that led to a broader investigation.
A priest was accused of using trust like a key to open doors he should not have opened. A jury decided he broke serious laws, so the court gave him a very long prison sentence instead of letting him walk free.
Analysis
What happened
Anthony Odiong, 57, was sentenced by a Waco jury to 99 years in prison after being convicted of sexual assault in Texas. The same jury had found him guilty of one first-degree sexual assault charge and two second-degree sexual assault charges, with the sentences ordered to run at the same time.
How the case built
The article says Odiong spent roughly 17 years ministering in places including Waco and later served as pastor of a Catholic church in Luling, Louisiana. In late 2023, New Orleans archdiocese leaders removed him from that role over clerical misconduct with multiple women. A Guardian investigation published in February 2024 then documented accusations from women who said Odiong used spiritual direction, unwanted touching, sexual coercion, and financial control.
One woman later identified in court as Mary Doe brought that reporting to Waco police and said Odiong had also formed a sexual relationship with her there from 2008 to 2011 while he was giving her spiritual direction. Texas treats that kind of conduct by a religious cleric as felony sexual assault. Her complaint led to an investigation, arrest, and trial.
What jurors heard
Sentencing testimony included women who said Odiong touched them inappropriately while he was ministering near Baylor University and another woman from Luling who said he made sexual advances after counseling her dying husband. The article says prosecutors and jurors concluded he had exploited his spiritual authority with two devout female parishioners, directly or indirectly.
The defense asked for probation, but jurors instead imposed long prison terms and fines on each count. The result closes one chapter in a case that linked reporting, survivor complaints, and criminal charges around alleged abuse of clerical power.
Key points
- Anthony Odiong received a 99-year prison sentence in Waco after being convicted of sexual assault.
- Jurors found that he exploited his role as a clergyman and spiritual adviser with parishioners.
- Testimony described inappropriate touching and sexual advances stretching back years.
- A Guardian investigation and a police complaint helped trigger the Texas case.
- The court also imposed fines on each charge.
The sentence removes Odiong from positions where he could harm more people. It may also encourage other survivors to come forward when they see complaints leading to a conviction.
The case shows how abuse can continue for years before authorities act. Even with a long sentence, the article suggests the church and communities involved may still be left dealing with the damage and trust that was broken.
