![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-300x200.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
Barcelona lost a home league match for the first time in two years as the Spanish champions were beaten by Real Betis’s expert display at the Nou Camp.
Junior Firpo gave Betis a deserved lead after 20 minutes, before veteran Joaquin made it two before the break.
Lionel Messi scored a penalty in reply but a Marc-Andre ter Stegen error saw Giovani lo Celso add a third for Betis.
Arturo Vidal’s tap-in gave Barca hope, but Sergio Canales got the away side’s fourth, before a Messi consolation.
Ernesto Valverde’s side remain at the top of La Liga, one point ahead of Atletico Madrid and Alaves.
The hosts had Ivan Rakitic sent off for a second yellow card with eight minutes left when trailing 3-2 and were powerless to match a determined and clinical Betis side, despite Messi’s two goals on his return from a fractured arm suffered three weeks ago.
Barca’s previous home league defeat came on 10 September 2016, when they lost 2-1 to Alaves.
Betis had lost on their past eight visits to the Nou Camp and had not won there for more than 20 years.
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But they came away with three points that lifts them up to 12th in the table courtesy of an impressive display built on adventurous counter-attacking and smart play in possession.
Quique Setien’s side went into this game having scored only eight goals in 11 matches, the lowest return in La Liga.
Here they mustered eight shots on goal to Barca’s five and scored from half of those.
Ter Stegen did let a Lo Celso strike slip through his gloves immediately after Messi had scored Barca’s first from the penalty spot, which slowed the home side’s momentum.
But nothing should be taken away from Betis, who more than deserved this victory which keeps Barca’s rivals for the title within touching distance.
