WACO (TX)
WVLA NBC Local 33 / WGMB Fox 44 [Baton Rouge LA]
April 15, 2026
By Roland Richter
Citing an overload of evidence, defense attorneys for Anthony Odiong have obtained a delay for the trial of their client, accused of sex assault and fathering children.
The hearing Tuesday in 19th District Court came as the former Catholic priest was set to go on trial May 4. Odiong has been indicted on three counts counts of sexual assault by a McLennan County Grand Jury.
Prosecutors also were granted their motion to consolidate all of the charges against Odiong in one trial.
McLennan County District Attorney Josh Tetens said it could be moved to May 26 with a decision by the court to come by Friday.
Anthony Odiong served as a Catholic priest at St. Peters Catholic Student Center in Waco, as well as St. Mary’s of the Assumption in West from 2007 to 2012. Investigators say they also know that Anthony Odiong served in Luling, Louisiana from around 2015 to 2023.
Odiong has been in the McLennan County Jail since August 2024, after being brought to Waco from Ave Maria, Florida where he had been arrested in July of 2024 by the Florida Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force on a charge of possession of child pornography.
An attempt to get his bond reduced from $5.5 million dollars total was previously denied.
The investigation began into Anthony Odiong after police said what they felt was a credible report was filed for a possible sexual assault alleged to have occurred in 2012. Multiple women have come forward to tell about similar experiences as the victim who reported the initial allegation. Experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognized as groping, and financial abuse, with some victims experiencing various forms of manipulation. This investigation has since identified nine survivors of Anthony Odiong`s alleged abuse.
Additionally investigators say two positive identifications of offspring have been made. In a bond hearing, prosecuting attorneys presented laboratory DNA evidence showing Anthony Odiong with a certainty of >99.99% as the biological father of offspring created as a direct result of alleged sexual assault committed against a known survivor.
Investigators alleged evidence of a sexual relationship was present from 2007-2012 in emails, text messages and corroborated by alleged repeated predatory behaviors by Odiong connected with nearly every survivor identified to date.