NEW ORLEANS (LA)
WDSU [New Orleans]
July 16, 2024
By Erin Lowrey
LULING, La. — A former Louisiana priest who has been credibly accused of sex crimes in several states is under investigation in Texas, where police believe he may have more victims.
Anthony Odiong,55, who was a priest in Luling from 2015 to 2023, is accused of sexual assault and most recently possession of child pornography, according to a news release issued by the Waco Police Department.
Waco police say they were made aware of a sexual assault that happened in 2013 involving Odiong.
Odiong was arrested on Tuesday in Ave Maria, Fla. He is awaiting extradition.
According to Waco police, multiple women have come forward to share similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation.
Police say those experiences ranged from sexual assault to groping and indecent assault.
Officers believe there are potentially more victims across the country.
Odiong served as a Catholic priest at St. Peter’s Catholic Student Center in Waco, Texas, as well as St. Mary’s of the Assumption in West, Texas, from 2007 to 2012.This content is imported from Facebook. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
The Waco Police Department issued the following statement asking women to come forward if they were victimized:
“To those who have come forward, we applaud your courage amidst having to relive your unspeakable experience. To the additional survivors, we are committed to the pursuit of justice and want you to know that you can come forward without the risk of being publicly identified.
“You can speak to Detective Bradley DeLange directly, who will explain how we are committed to ensuring your confidentiality. Det. DeLange can be reached at 254 750-7609. Respect for your experience is our highest priority.
“You will not be required to go to court if you don’t prefer, nor will your name be made public. If you have been victimized by Anthony Odiong anywhere in the United States, we need to hear from you.
“You are not alone, and you do not have to continue to live with the trauma of this experience alone.
“The Waco Police Department stands ready to assist survivors, no matter where they may be.
“Again, you can speak to Detective Bradley DeLange directly, who will explain how we are committed to ensuring your confidentiality. Det. DeLange can be reached at 254 750-7609.”
Back in December 2023, the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office issued a statement regarding an allegation against Odiong that happened in the parish.
The sheriff’s office said The Archdiocese of New Orleans reached out after a claim in the Archdiocese Bankruptcy Case had been filed by the attorney of an unnamed fifty-four-year-old woman.
That woman claimed she had been assaulted by Odiong, and had reported it to a deputy four years prior.
The sheriff’s office found that report, which stated the woman described a consensual sexual relationship. The report said the deputies told her that what she described was not a crime.
The news release from the sheriff went on to say that deputies contacted her attorney, who said she did not want to come forward and provide a statement on the alleged assault she reported through the bankruptcy case.
The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued the following statement regarding Odiong’s arrest:
“This morning, July 16, 2024, the Archdiocese of New Orleans was made aware of the arrest of Anthony Odiong on charges related to possession of child pornography. The arrest was made in Florida in an investigation stemming from allegations reported in Waco, Texas. Odiong, a priest of the Diocese of Uyo in Nigeria, previously served as a priest in the Archdiocese of New Orleans.”