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Texas Prosecutors Seek to Consolidate Sexual Assault Charges Against Priest Anthony Odiong
Prosecutors in McLennan County, Texas, have filed a motion to combine three cases against Roman Catholic priest Anthony Odiong, who faces charges of exploiting his position to engage in sexual conduct with female congregants. The motion cites Texas law allowing consolidation for connected or similar offenses.
Apr 5, 7:00 AM·2m read1 source
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Anthony Odiong, a Roman Catholic priest with ties to Texas and southeast Louisiana, faces criminal charges for allegedly abusing his position as a clergyman to engage in sexual conduct with three female congregants. The charges stem from encounters where prosecutors allege Odiong exploited the women's emotional dependency on him as a spiritual adviser.
Texas law classifies such conduct as a felony.
In late March, McLennan County First Assistant District Attorney Ryan Calvert filed a motion to consolidate the three cases into a single trial. The motion argues that the cases are connected under Texas state law, which permits prosecuting a defendant in one action for repeated commission of similar offenses. A tentative trial date has been set for May 4, according to reports from The Guardian.
Odiong faces five counts of first-degree sexual assault and two counts of second-degree sexual assault related to the three women. Conviction on any first-degree charge could result in life imprisonment. Odiong's defense attorney, Gerald Villarrial, declined to comment on the consolidation motion, which he can object to if he prefers separate trials.
The charges followed a February 2024 report by The Guardian detailing accusations from women against Odiong, including sexual coercion, unwanted touching, and abusive financial control during his time as a priest in Waco, Texas. Investigators identified 10 women Odiong is suspected of targeting through his ministry in Texas and the Louisiana region, including suburban New Orleans.
While only three cases led to charges, the number of accusers allowed prosecutors to proceed without statute of limitations concerns for older allegations.
Accusers whose cases did not result in charges, including those from Louisiana, may testify in support during the consolidated trial. Odiong worked in the New Orleans area, where several Catholic clergymen have faced arrests for sexual abuse allegations before and after the archdiocese filed for federal bankruptcy protection in 2020.
