Anthony Odiong after his arrest in Florida on 16 July 2024. Photo: Waco Police/The Guardian

A Nigerian-born Roman Catholic priest, Anthony Odiong, has been convicted by a jury in Texas, United States, for sexually assaulting women under his spiritual care, The Guardian reports.

Odiong, 57, was found guilty on one count of first-degree sexual assault and two counts of second-degree sexual assault after a trial in Waco, Texas.

The jury, made up of eight women and four men, delivered its verdict after about two hours of deliberation on Friday.

The court heard testimony from two women who said Odiong used his role as a priest to manipulate and pressure them into sexual relationships.