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Former McLennan County priest indicted on multiple counts of sexual assault

Anthony Odiong was arrested in Florida on July 16 for alleged possession of child pornography. Multiple women have accused him of sexual assault, police say.

MCLENNAN COUNTY, Texas — A former McLennan County priest has been indicted on multiple charges of sexual assault, according to a release from the McLennan County District Clerk.

Anthony Odiong was indicted by a grand jury on multiple counts after being booked into the McLennan County Jail in August on charges of sexual assault and possession of child pornography, according to McLennan County.

According to the McLennan County Jail inmate list, Odiong was booked into the jail on Tuesday, Aug. 6 on three felony charges.

Odiong, who no longer lives in the area, was arrested in Ave Maria, Florida on July 16 for allegedly being in possession of child pornography. Odiong was reportedly held in the Collier County Jail in Florida until he was taken back to McLennan County.

According to the Waco Police Department, multiple women have also come forward accusing Odiong of sexually assaulting, groping or financially exploiting them.

Two sexual assault charges have reportedly been filed against Odiong, with eight survivors identified so far, police said in July. Police are still asking other survivors to come forward.

Waco Police say they are seeking stories from victims not just in McLennan County, but wherever in the U.S. Odiong may have caused harm for others.

Those who wish to come forward can contact Detective Bradley DeLange at 254-750-7609. Police say they are ready to assist the survivors who wish to come forward, and can do so without being publicly identified or having to go to court, if preferred.

Law firm Callahan & King has announced that they plan to go forward with legal action against Odiong and the Catholic Diocese of Austin on behalf of a survivor. The firm says the allegations against Odiong involve four women stretching back as far as 2007.

Odiong's ties to McLennan County include his time as a priest at St. Peters Catholic Student Center in Waco and St. Mary's of the Assumption in West. He served at the two parishes from 2007 to 2012. Police say Odiong also served in Luling, Louisiana from around 2015 to 2023.

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